The Brethren school in Meadowbank received $5.1 million from the Commonwealth, which gave all Brethren schools a total of $12 million last year. Brethren schools receive the maximum level of Commonwealth funding that is usually reserved for schools in severely disadvantaged areas. But a survey of members over previous decades had shown they were found in the “middle to upper levels of the socio-economic group”.

With total state subsidies climbing to more than $6 million dollars each year, the growth of Brethren schools is now also a direct responsibility of the state education ministers.

It sure makes the NSW govt sponsorship of NMG that everyone is foaming at the mouth about look like a few crumbs on the bottom of the griller tray.

Given “just 10 minutes after seeking [Liberal Party] comment, [Bachelard received] calls from Hales’ spokesman wanting to know why [Bachelard] was asking these questions”, no wonder John Howard was all of a sudden “warning” MPs to have no contact with the elusive Exclusive Brethren sect last year. Wouldn’t want any casual observer to get the right impression.

This is why our Freedom of Information laws must be robust and presume in favour of the real public interest, not the specious interests of ministers and MPs trying to shield their decisions and actions from public scrutiny.

It seems unlikely that we’ve seen or heard the last of the Exclusive Brethren sect’s political activities.