Victoria
Plymouth Brethren denies paying influencers to harass election candidates
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has rejected allegations that it coordinated with far-right influencers to intimidate federal election candidates.
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has strongly denied allegations that it paid or coordinated with far-right influencers to harass and intimidate political candidates during last year's federal election.
The denial follows allegations published in Nine newspapers, which suggested the church was involved in a coordinated campaign targeting candidates during the federal poll.
According to the reports, the church allegedly engaged with prominent online figures to disrupt the campaigns of certain candidates. The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has rejected these claims entirely, stating that it had no involvement in any such activities.
Details regarding which specific candidates were targeted, or which far-right influencers were allegedly paid, remain unconfirmed in the public allegations. It is also unclear how many electorates were affected by the alleged campaign, or what the scale of the financial arrangements was.
The church, known for its conservative values and historically private nature, has previously faced scrutiny over its political engagements. However, the organisation has maintained that its activities remain within legal boundaries and that it does not engage in coordinated harassment.
In its statement, the church clarified that it does not coordinate with external digital actors for the purposes of political intimidation. The organisation has distanced itself from the actions of the online influencers mentioned in the media reports.
Observers of Australian politics have noted that the allegations highlight ongoing concerns regarding the influence of third-party organisations in federal election campaigns. The regulatory framework surrounding digital campaigning and third-party spending remains a subject of debate.
We will watch to see if federal electoral authorities or parliamentary committees launch an inquiry into the allegations.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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