A moment we have all been waiting for as ex-members of this cult. BDH has been calling the shots and hiding for far too long! Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales to appear before parliamentary inquiry despite backlash By Sarah Ison Senior political reporter archive.is/fI1zF Bruce Hales, global leader of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, is set to appear before a parliamentary committee after threats he would be subpoenaed if he did not agree to do so by the end of this week, in the latest escalation of a saga that has sparked debate over religious freedom. The Australian understands Mr Hales is due to face the joint standing committee on electoral matters next Friday as part of its inquiry into the conduct of individuals and interest groups at the federal election last year. As part of the Labor-led inquiry, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has come under scrutiny after its members were accused of tracking Labor and Greens MPs during the campaign and pulling “aggressive stunts” alongside individuals with neo-Nazi links. However, the pursuit of Mr Hales and the church for the behaviour of some members has been slammed by the Coalition and faith community for setting “a deeply concerning precedent” and exacerbating high levels of religious discrimination in the ­aftermath of the Middle East conflict. In response to the committee indicating it may force Mr Hales to appear as a witness should he refuse its invitation, Freedom for Faith urged parliamentarians to “set the moral standard by unequivocally rejecting guilt by ­religious association”. “People of faith are entitled to participate in our democracy on the same terms as any other citizen: they may volunteer, organise, donate and campaign, individually or together,” a letter sent to committee members by Freedom for Faith said. “Their religious affiliation, or position in the faith organisation, does not automatically turn those activities into acts of their church. Religious leaders (are not) automatically responsible for the political choices, associations or conduct of those who share their faith – even if those members are senior leaders in the faith.” Despite this warning, and backlash from Mr Hales’ family, the senior church leader is now expected to appear before the committee. The Australian understands he was told he had until Friday afternoon to confirm whether he would attend before a subpoena was considered. In a statement last month, Mr Hales’ family said he had nothing to do with the federal election and “the fact that a parliamentary committee is threatening to summons him to answer for the legal political activities of some of the individual members of our church is a disgrace”. The faith leader’s son, Gareth Hales, did volunteer with the Liberal Party, the family confirmed, but did so “as a private citizen and not as a member of the church or the Hales family”. Liberal MP Ben Small, a JSCEM committee member, said the parliamentary inquiry had now be “hijacked” for political purposes. “Even after faith leaders from all creeds called on the Prime Minister to stop his hyperpartisan witch hunt of a minority group based on their faith, we’ve now come to the point that Mr Hales is being interrogated at Labor’s behest despite answering all questions put to him in detailed written submissions,” he said. Labor MPs have defended the need for scrutiny on the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, hitting back at accusations the matter undermined religious freedom or was politically motivated. Queensland Labor MP Shayne Neumann, a Christian, last month hit back against the Coalition accusing Labor of having “a problem with people of faith”, and lashed the defence of the Brethren as “good people”. “Good people don’t assault, harass and abuse voters at polling booths … They don’t stalk and follow in cars, to their homes, political opponents, their campaign directors and their campaign workers,” he said in a fiery address to parliament. A spokesman for Labor MP and committee member Julie-Anne Campbell said the Liberal Party should front up over its connections to the Brethren. “Now more than ever Australians need to know that our democracy is strong, transparent and, most importantly, fair. Serious questions were raised after the 2025 election, and this hearing is the place to get answers,” the spokesman said. “Transparency and confidence in our elections is essential. The Liberal Party has an open invitation to front the committee and tell us what they knew, and when they knew it.”