Independent Federal Member for Kooyong Dr Monique Ryan has condemned the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church following revelations the organisation paid for and coordinated demonstrations by right-wing activities and neo-Nazis in the Kooyong electorate during the 2025 Federal Election.
According to media reports, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church actively campaigned for the Liberal and National parties during the 2025 election campaign, orchestrating and paying for right-wing activists and neo-Nazis to interrupt campaign events and voting in Kooyong and other electorates.
Demonstrations in Kooyong including interruption of a Friends of the ABC event by neo-Nazi Matt Trihey on 23 April 2025, interjections at an Asylum Seekers Resource Centre event by former Proud Boy Harrison McLean on 24 April 2025, and an antisemitic demonstration by Joel Davis and other neo-Nazis at the Kew pre-poll centre on 30 April 2025.
Dr Ryan: “Today we learned that the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has colluded with right-wing activists and neo-Nazis to help the Coalition in a federal election. This is an insult to Australian democracy. People with deep pockets and commercial interests are trying to manipulate our elections.
“Liberal voters should be asking why their party is colluding with ultra-conservative religious groups and racists. Jewish voters will be asking why the Liberal Party is working – even indirectly – with antisemites”.
“This is a new low for Australian democracy. The people behind these dirty deals and disgusting demonstrations have to be identified and held to account,” said Dr Ryan.
As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Dr Ryan will participate in a hearing today in Canberra in which representatives of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and Advance will appear before the committee.
