Exclusive: Australian Federal Election 2024-25 Donations
Today the 2nd February 2026, the Australian Election Commission published their annual donor list.
Brethren Exposed can reveal that at least $655,000 was given to Advance Australia by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Last year the Daily Telegraph reported that Dean and Charles Hales confirmed that donations had been made of $700,000, but the choice was down to individual members and that the Church itself, hadn't made any donations.
We have found the following donations:
Rod Tunley $246,500
David Steele $226,500
Andrew Gillies $145,000
Gavin Grace $18,500
Peter Grace $18,500
There would appear to be an 'odd discrepancy' in the reporting of donations made by Rod Tunley, his annual return states he donated to the Liberal Party, however Advance Australia show his donation in their receipts. Tunley of South Australia had previously donated $115,000 to the Liberal Party, in 2021-22, via his company Voltex Electrical Accessories. Voltex is one of the three companies that is audited by Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Tunley is also a trustee of the Arthur Street Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity in the Adelaide surburbs.
Victorian, David Steele, is new to donating and owns the Swan Hill based company, Polymaster. He is also a trustee of the Swan Hill Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity, along with being a trustee of the Prospect Hill Trust, a brethren charity which we will dig deeper into on another day!
Andrew Gillies from New South Wales, is also a new donor. Gillies owns the cladding company FVA Group which trades under the name Fairview. He is also a trustee of the Lithgow based Bowenfels Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity.
Victorian, Gavin Grace is another new donor, Grace has been in the limelight on various occasions in the last few years. Firstly as a director of PPE contract winner Westlab, secondly for his links to a multi-million pound property purchase in North Sydney, and thirdly for his latest business venture, Connected Global, employing former Liberal Government Health Minister Greg Hunt. It is also worth noting that Westlab was another of the three companies for which Bruce Hales was the auditor. Gavin Grace is also a director of OneSchool Global Australia, the main brethren education charity.
Finally, we have Peter Grace, father of Gavin Grace and owner of Westlab. He is also a first time political donor. Peter is also a trustee of the brethren meeting room charity, South Ballarat Gospel Trust.
In total, we have found five members, donating $655,000 to Advance Australia. The full list can be found on the Brethren Network database
Brethren Exposed can reveal that at least $655,000 was given to Advance Australia by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Last year the Daily Telegraph reported that Dean and Charles Hales confirmed that donations had been made of $700,000, but the choice was down to individual members and that the Church itself, hadn't made any donations.
We have found the following donations:
Rod Tunley $246,500
David Steele $226,500
Andrew Gillies $145,000
Gavin Grace $18,500
Peter Grace $18,500
There would appear to be an 'odd discrepancy' in the reporting of donations made by Rod Tunley, his annual return states he donated to the Liberal Party, however Advance Australia show his donation in their receipts. Tunley of South Australia had previously donated $115,000 to the Liberal Party, in 2021-22, via his company Voltex Electrical Accessories. Voltex is one of the three companies that is audited by Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Tunley is also a trustee of the Arthur Street Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity in the Adelaide surburbs.
Victorian, David Steele, is new to donating and owns the Swan Hill based company, Polymaster. He is also a trustee of the Swan Hill Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity, along with being a trustee of the Prospect Hill Trust, a brethren charity which we will dig deeper into on another day!
Andrew Gillies from New South Wales, is also a new donor. Gillies owns the cladding company FVA Group which trades under the name Fairview. He is also a trustee of the Lithgow based Bowenfels Gospel Trust, a brethren meeting room charity.
Victorian, Gavin Grace is another new donor, Grace has been in the limelight on various occasions in the last few years. Firstly as a director of PPE contract winner Westlab, secondly for his links to a multi-million pound property purchase in North Sydney, and thirdly for his latest business venture, Connected Global, employing former Liberal Government Health Minister Greg Hunt. It is also worth noting that Westlab was another of the three companies for which Bruce Hales was the auditor. Gavin Grace is also a director of OneSchool Global Australia, the main brethren education charity.
Finally, we have Peter Grace, father of Gavin Grace and owner of Westlab. He is also a first time political donor. Peter is also a trustee of the brethren meeting room charity, South Ballarat Gospel Trust.
In total, we have found five members, donating $655,000 to Advance Australia. The full list can be found on the Brethren Network database