The federal charities regulator is investigating Hillsong over explosive allegations aired under parliamentary privilege that it engaged in money laundering and tax evasion, with claims the mega-church earned $80m more than it publicly declared.
Financial documents tabled in parliament by the independent MP Andrew Wilkie, obtained from a whistleblower, claim to show Hillsong used funds from the jobkeeper wage subsidy program to help fund the purchase of Melbourne’s Festival Hall, and that its founder, Brian Houston, used tithes from parishioners to pay for upgraded hotel quarantine accommodation when returning from overseas at the height of the Covid pandemic.
Hillsong has disputed the allegations, claiming many of Wilkie’s representations were false or out of context, and that it was engaging with regulators as part of an ongoing legal case. But the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) issued a rare public statement on Friday afternoon to announce it was probing the claims raised by Wilkie and the whistleblower.
“Although it was stated in parliament that the ACNC has not acted, I can confirm that we are investigating concerns raised about Hillsong Church charities,” said the commissioner, Sue Woodward. “Hillsong has stated publicly that it is fully cooperating with regulatory authorities.”
Wilkie alleged the leaked financial records and documents were provided to the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission...
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