Scandal’s repercussions

Under parliamentary privilege, Andrew Wilkie, an independent Member of Parliament in Australia, made an astonishing series of revelations concerning the finances of the Hillsong Church – the Australian-based worldwide franchise claiming a worldwide membership of 150,000.

This membership has severely declined after a number of scandals, not least with the former senior pastor, Brian Houston, who is currently on trial in a Sydney Court, accused of covering up his father’s child sexual abuse.

The financial allegations, which Hillsong deny, but which Mr Wilkie claims are backed up by hundreds of documents, and which are currently being investigated by the Australian charities commission, are dreadful. Hillsong is accused of hiding $80 million of income in order to avoid tax, and of using church funds to fund luxurious lifestyles for its pastors.