As Australia becomes less religious, churches have insinuated themselves
into politics and gained particular control over Tony Abbott. Introducing himself to the Liberal Party’s West Australian state
council meeting a week ago, the newly endorsed candidate for the Canning
byelection, Andrew Hastie, recalled one particularly happy memory of
his childhood.
“I was born in regional Victoria in a town called Wangaratta,” he said. “My father started a church there from scratch and I travelled with him in the early years around the vast parish… I have sweet memories of those times.”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2015/08/29/prime-minister-tony-abbott-and-the-christian-right/14407704002308
“I was born in regional Victoria in a town called Wangaratta,” he said. “My father started a church there from scratch and I travelled with him in the early years around the vast parish… I have sweet memories of those times.”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2015/08/29/prime-minister-tony-abbott-and-the-christian-right/14407704002308