The Hillsong Fraud Allegations
Warning: This section features details of child sexual abuse that could be triggering for some readers.
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God,” said a dude named Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, the charismatic church Hillsong might have never got this memo. This is because Hillsong has been accused of committing “fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion.”
Under Australian parliamentary privilege, the Independent MP Andrew Wilkie talked through some incriminating Hillsong documents in Parliament that were provided to him by a whistleblower. These documents claim that Hillsong’s Founder, Brian Houston, used church funds to hire private jets “like they were Ubers“. Wilkie also said that Houston spent $150,000 worth of church funds on a luxury retreat in Mexico’s Cancun.
What’s more, these two examples are allegedly the tip of the Hillsong fraud iceberg. If we were to dive into all of Wilkie’s allegations, we’d be here for a very hot minute.
In response to these claims, Hillsong has stated, “The claims made in federal Parliament by Mr Andrew Wilkie are out of context and relate to untested allegations made by an employee in an ongoing legal case. These allegations, made under parliamentary privilege, are in many respects wrong, and it is disappointing he made no effort to contact us first. If he did so, we would have answered his questions.”
However, it’s also worth noting that this fraud scandal isn’t the only heinous controversy in which Hillsong has been recently entangled. In 2022, Houston was charged for allegedly helping cover up an instance of child abuse that his father committed. This abuse was sexual in nature.
In 2023, Houston stepped down as Hillsong’s Global Senior Pastor.
If this section brought up any issues for you or anyone you know, please contact Bravehearts — an organisation providing support to victims of child abuse. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, you can get advice from the Child Abuse Protection Hotline (1800 688 009) or the 24-Hour Child Abuse Report Line (131 478).
Will Australians Soon Score Four-Day Work Weeks?
In better news, a Federal Government committee has recommended that some Aussies test if a four-day work week, at full-time pay, would make sense here. Additionally, this recommendation has been backed by both Labor and the Greens.
“We have slipped too far behind,” explained Barbara Pocock, a Greens Senator and head of said committee. “And we are paying a price in labour supply, stressed workers, and gender inequality. It is time for a new social contract, fit for the 21st-century workforce.”
Tragically, just because such a trial has federal support, doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen. We’ll keep you in the loop regarding this important situation.
Related: Is The Four-Day Workweek Finally Becoming a Reality?
Related: How the Four-Day Work Week Experiments Are Going in the Countries That Have Trialled Them
Australia’s Refugee Sponsorship Programme Works
Meanwhile, an organisation called Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia is in its slay era. This is because they have delivered a pilot programme that allows volunteer groups to “adopt” a refugee family. These volunteer groups help their refugee fams get settled in Australia.
According to Ramia Al Romhain, a Syrian refugee, this programme has been immensely useful. This community-based support has helped her kids emerge from their shells and feel welcomed.
“It was an opposite life in the Middle East,” said Romhain.
“The kids would not leave home. They would just sit at home and only go to church.”
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