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Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has used parliamentary privilege to accuse Hillsong’s church of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion to finance luxury travel and lifestyles.
Hillsong has disputed the Tasmanian MP’s allegations, saying his comments were out of context and based on “unsubstantiated allegations” made by an employee in an ongoing legal case.
Wilkie claimed Thursday that tens of thousands of leaked financial records and documents show the misuse of church funds and excessive spending.
It said the money was spent on “the kind of purchases that would put a Kardashian to shame” and shows former Hillsong frontman Brian Houston, who left office last year, “treating private jets like Ubers.”
Over a three-month period, Houston used church money for trips that cost $179,000, Wilkie said, and documents showed four Houston family members and friends spent $150,000 of church money on a luxury retreat in Cancun, Mexico, in 2021.
Hillsong’s new head, Phil Dooley, is also alleged to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on business class flights for himself and his daughter.
“Hillsong fans believe that the money they put in the poor box goes to the poor, but these documents show how that money is actually being used to make the kind of purchases that would put a Kardashian to shame,” Wilkie said on the House floor. of the Federation of Parliament.
“Sending millions of dollars of Australian charitable donations abroad is illegal in some circumstances,” he said.
Wilkie also alleged that Hillsong earns $80 million more in Aussie annual revenue than it publicly reports.
It said the leaked financial records and documents were provided to the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under the whistleblowers’ protection, but they failed to act.
Education Minister Jason Clare said it was important that these two bodies and the charity watchdog look into the serious allegations.
“If you are a member of the congregation and have donated to the church then you would be legitimately concerned about where your money is going here,” Mr Clare told Seven’s Sunrise.
In response to the allegations, a Hillsong statement said they were made under parliamentary privilege and were “wrong on many counts” and it was disappointing that Mr Wilkie made no effort to contact the church first.
“Had you done so, we would have answered your questions and provided you with financial records to address your concerns,” the Hillsong statement said.
“Hillsong has sought independent legal and accounting advice on these matters since the employee involved in the legal case made these claims, and we believe we have complied with all legal and compliance requirements.”
Houston is fighting allegations that she concealed her late father’s child sexual abuse and has pleaded not guilty to concealing the crime until her father’s death in 2004.
The case will resume in June.
Hillsong announced in April 2022 that it had accepted Houston’s resignation after it was discovered that he had violated the church’s moral code by having inappropriate relationships with two women.
