Church Rejects Election Claims
Brethren Church Denies Allegations of Coordinating Political Interference During 2025 Election Campaign
Key Points
Laurence McIntyre, linked to the Nine reports, has previously been pictured with neo-Nazi figures Joel Davis and Blair Cottrell and was reported by the ABC to be an organiser for a March for Australia anti-immigration rally in 2025.
Lloyd Grimshaw described Nine's reporting as a 'complete lie' and asserted the church did not donate to political parties or third parties; he said there was no single amount of money, transaction, quote, or communication tying the church to any politician or party, and the story 'doesn’t even meet a threshold of gossip.'
The Nine reports are framed within broader financial and organizational context, with articles noting the Brethren church as 'fiercely protective of a multi-billion-dollar business which supports the church.'
Ahead of the inquiry, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urged that democracy must have a clear line against intimidation, echoing calls to set boundaries on electoral intimidation.
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has flatly denied allegations that it secretly paid far-right activists to disrupt the 2025 election and coordinate hundreds of volunteers at polling booths, according to The Guardian. Lloyd Grimshaw, a church director, told a Senate inquiry that the church made no donations to political parties and called the accusations a "complete lie" that "doesn't even meet a threshold of gossip."
The denials come after Nine newspapers reported that the church funded influencers like Laurence McIntyre, who targeted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The church maintains its members were victims of harassment at polling booths and argues public focus on volunteers has been unfair, SBS reports.
Church Director Rejects All Political Payment Claims
Grimshaw told senators there was "no single amount of money, transaction, quote, or communication" linking the church to any politician or party, The Guardian reported. He said the church has no involvement in political donations or coordination. The church emphasized that members who volunteered wore blue but not everyone in blue was a church member.
Laurence McIntyre's Connections to Far-Right Figures
Laurence McIntyre, the influencer named in Nine's reports, has been photographed with neo-Nazi figures Joel Davis and Blair Cottrell. The ABC reported that McIntyre was an organizer for a March for Australia anti-immigration rally scheduled for 2025, linking him to extremist activism networks.
Church's Multi-Billion Dollar Business Under Scrutiny
Nine's reporting has placed the Brethren church within a broader financial context, describing it as "fiercely protective of a multi-billion-dollar business which supports the church." The church's extensive commercial interests have become relevant as senators examine potential political influence operations and funding sources during the 2025 election cycle.
Democracy Must Have Clear Boundaries Against Election Intimidation
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urged that "democracy must have a clear line against intimidation" in electoral processes, The Guardian reported. His comments reflect broader government concern about polling booth activities and the need to protect voters from harassment or disruption during elections, setting the tone for the ongoing Senate inquiry.
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