PM confirms he asked for Hillsong head Brian Houston to be invited to White House dinner
After months of stonewalling journalists, Scott Morrison confirms he asked the White House to invite Hillsong founder Brian Houston to a state dinner in Washington last year.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he asked the White House to invite Hillsong founder Brian Houston to a state dinner in Washington last year.
The admission comes after months of Mr Morrison ducking the question, labelling stories about it “gossip” and repeatedly stonewalling reporters.
But on Tuesday he finally answered the question.
“On that occasion, we put forward a number of names that included Brian, but not everybody whose names we put forward were invited,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“They’re a very large church. I mean, well known in the United States, and a lot of people in the United States came along to the services every week. So I’m not quite sure what the accusation is about that.”
Fordham insisted it was relevant because the preacher was under police investigation over his handling of sex abuse allegations involving his father, Frank Houston.
“All I know is that they’re a very large and very well-attended and well-supported organisation here in Australia,” Mr Morrison responded.
“They’re very well known in the United States, so well known that Brian was actually at the White House a few months after I was. So the president obviously didn’t have an issue with it. And that’s what, I think, that’s where the matter rests.”
During the exchange, Mr Morrison said he had known the pastor for a long time and claimed Hillsong.
In his first speech to parliament, Mr Morrison namechecked Mr Houston and thanked church leaders who had greatly assisted him over the years.
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