‘Cult’ church accused of paying for election stunts

The Exclusive Brethren, its bags of cash and how it allegedly used it to help the Liberal Party during the election.
Aug 25, 2026, updated Aug 25, 2026

Last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was ambushed in his hotel lobby by far-right figures boasting of being fed “private intel” during the last election campaign. 

The incident was one of about a dozen stunts targeting Labor, the Greens and some independent MPs. 

It turns out, this wasn’t just about influencers trying to generate content. It was actually a co-ordinated campaign allegedly paid for by a wealthy Christian sect. 

Today, investigative journalist at The Age Sherryn Groch discusses the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, its bags of cash, and connections to the Liberal Party. 

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Guest: Investigative journalist Sherryn Groch

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