This week on Yeah Nah Pasaran! we talk to Michael Bachelard. Michael is a reporter for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and the author of Behind the Exclusive Brethren (Scribe, 2010), which details the church’s ‘origins in the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century, their fractious history, their extraordinary use of scripture to control members and dissidents, and their lucrative business and financial arrangements … a fascinating story of influence and power exercised across several continents.’
In ‘Tail, film, heckle’: Inside the Brethren’s secret election influence plot with the far-right by Sherryn Groch and Michael Bachelard (The Age, September 13, 2026), it was reported that ‘Leaked messages reveal the full story of how the Exclusive Brethren secretly recruited neo-Nazi associates to harass MPs at the election. As the church denies it, one elder confirms his involvement.’ Among the binfluencers named in the article are Laurence McIntyre, Chris de Bruyne (AKA Chriscoveries/Australian Firebrand), (Proud Boy) Harrison McLean, Barclay McGain (‘You’ve Done It Again’/CPAC Australia) and (‘That’s Freedom!’) Morgan C Jonas.
See also : ‘Assault on democracy’: Brethren leaders called to answer for far-right election plot, Michael Bachelard and Sherryn Groch, The Age, September 16, 2026 /// Who are the Brethren and what do they believe in?, Bernard Doherty, The Conversation, August 26, 2026.
4.30pm, September 17, 2026 /// 855AM, digital, streaming, Community Radio Plus, podcats.
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