Arabic version: تحقيق في الإقليم الشمالي يستمع إلى مزاعم بشأن حملات انتخابية

According to ABC News, former Northern Territory Labor leader Eva Lawler told a federal parliamentary inquiry that people she believed may have been linked to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church campaigned for the conservative side of politics during the 2025 federal election. Lawler alleged some men at Greater Darwin polling booths were intimidating and made derogatory comments about Labor and Anthony Albanese.

Lawler said she could not say with complete certainty that the men were members of the church, also known as the Exclusive Brethren, and noted they were not locals. She told the inquiry that one person was handing out Country Liberal Party how-to-vote cards and at times spoke with One Nation campaigners. Lawler also alleged church members flew to remote Indigenous-community polling booths, including Wadeye and Groote Eylandt.

Former NT deputy Labor leader Lynne Walker gave evidence that a group of men she believed were part of the Brethren flew from Queensland to Galiwin’ku to campaign for the CLP. Walker said it was the first time she had seen people come from interstate to campaign for the party in remote communities. Federal Labor MP Marion Scrymgour had previously alleged church members displayed aggressive and intimidating behaviour at a Katherine polling booth.

A PBCC spokesperson denied the church played any role in the federal election campaign. The spokesperson said some people who shared the faith may have become involved, but said it was wrong to treat private citizens’ actions as reflective of or organised by their faith. CLP president Nathan Land said he had no knowledge of the party requesting campaign help from any religious group, including the Exclusive Brethren.

Former Territory Labor staffer and volunteer Kerry Gardiner also alleged PBCC members were flown in and out of Wadeye in a private jet owned by Gina Rinehart. Hancock Prospecting spokesperson James Radford rejected the allegation as wrong and defamatory, saying it was based on Gardiner seeing the letter H within a multi-character aircraft registration number. Hardy Aviation also has the letter H on its aircraft.