The Brethren Express

Reporter: Quentin McDermott
Broadcast: 12/10/2007
They don't vote and they repudiate any organised role in politics. It's God's call, they say, whether governments stand or fall.
But behind the scenes, members of the small, publicity-shy Exclusive Brethren sect have developed a political muscle that surpasses their numerical strength - and they enjoy flexing it.
In August, it was revealed that Exclusive Brethren elders had met with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, despite earlier disturbing exposes (including on Four Corners) about how the church splits up families. The Brethren have been linked sporadically to several recent election campaigns, most notably in New Zealand.
But as Four Corners reveals, the Brethren have a vigorous and largely untold political history going back at least to 1993, when John Hewson lost the "unloseable" election to Paul Keating.
Four Corners follows the political trail of the Brethren over 14 years and spells out how in the past few years its members have ramped up campaigning, spending millions in state and federal elections and overseas, including the USA.

LinkHere