Leaked Zoom call of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members reveals chatter about election tactics

An explosive leaked Zoom call featuring members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has revealed the election tactics of members on polling booths. HEAR THE AUDIO

Members of the exclusive religious sect campaigning en-masse for the Liberal Party can “smell the victory that’s in the air,” according to an explosive leaked Zoom call featuring members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

The recording – first published on social media by advocates campaigning against the exclusive church – reveals that members are being instructed to avoid questions on polling booths and “act as though everything that you do or say could be broadcast on national TV”.

In a statement, a PBCC spokesman said the church institution “had nothing to do with (the) zoom call,” but he conceded that there had been a “significant upswing” in “individual members” volunteering.

“Some individual members – acting independently – have chosen to support candidates based on shared values,” he said.

“It is fair to say that we have observed a significant upswing in this volunteering this week, since the attacks on our parishioners by Labor MPs and left-wing media began.”

The PBCC was formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren church before changing its name.

In the Zoom call, Brethren members advise others campaigners saying that they are members of the church, and “make sure you shake hands with everyone that’s wearing a blue shirt … not just people you know”.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’s members have been campaigning en-masse for Liberal candidates. Picture: Supplied

“Winning is fun. Who hasn’t enjoyed the blast over the last couple of weeks? We’re going to get stronger, smarter, faster, and we can smell the victory that’s in the air,” one contributor says.

This masthead has been unable to confirm the exact identity of the speakers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese again questioned why PBCC members were campaigning in massive numbers for Liberal candidates.

“It frankly doesn’t stack up that hundreds of people have just happened to turn up at polling booths, some travelling across state boundaries to hand out for the Liberal Party,” he said on Thursday.

“What’s the quid pro quo given that (this) organisation doesn’t vote in elections?”

The church’s website states that its members “generally … don’t vote”.

It comes after the Prime Minister labelled the group a “cult” on Tuesday.

The church has rejected that characterisation.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church denies it is a cult. Picture: Supplied

“We are not a cult,” the church’s website says in its “frequently asked questions” section.

The church said that a “small number” of its 16,000 Australian members had decided to campaign in the election, and accused the PM of “religious discrimination”.

On Thursday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was asked if anyone in his office had asked the Exclusive Brethren to campaign for the Liberal Party in the election.

“No,” he said.

A spokesman for the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church said:

“During this campaign, people of Jewish, Muslim and other faiths have become very politically active, with some even launching political parties and advocacy groups.

“While our church as an institution has not done this, had nothing to do with that zoom call, and remains politically neutral, some individual members – acting independently – have chosen to support candidates based on shared values, and it is fair to say that we have observed a significant upswing in this volunteering this week, since the attacks on our parishioners by Labor MPs and left-wing media began.

“Perhaps it’s a case of you say things like that, you get reactions like this.

“We will leave it to others to comment on legislative matters, except that we can confirm that Australia does need a Religious Discrimination Act. ”

Originally published as Leaked Zoom call of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members reveals chatter about election tactics