Correction*: JSCEM to recall Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
Parliament of Australia
The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters will hold a further public hearing in October with members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC).
The Committee has today resolved to invite Mr Bruce Hales and Mr Gareth Hales to a public hearing. The Committee has also resolved to issue a summons to compel their attendance should they refuse to attend.
The Committee will also invite the authors of submissions 313, 332 and 333, along with Mr Lester Sharples, named in recent media reporting, to attend the hearing.
‘Recent media reports about PBCC members paying known agitators and Nazi-associates to disrupt our democracy are deeply disturbing.’
‘Our democracy is more important than the outcome of any one election. Interference of this nature needs to be investigated and condemned by all sides of politics.’
‘Bruce and Gareth Hales are known to be the most senior members of the organisation in Australia. For the Committee to accurately report on the 2025 election, they need to show up and fess up.’
The program for the hearing will be available on the Committee's public hearings webpage closer to the date. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Further information on the 2025 election inquiry can be found at the inquiry webpage. Committee details can be found at the Committee’s webpage.
Media inquiries
Adam Rida, Office of Jerome Laxale MP
[email protected]
0457 046 918
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 2374
[email protected]
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website www.aph.gov.au/em. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
* An earlier version of this release had submission 312 listed. It should have been submission 313 which is now reflected in this media release.
