Bennelong Below the Line
Saturday, May 3, 2025 — Bennelong, NSW. The sun high, the mood steady. A sea of blue shirts hands out “how to vote” cards — Liberal volunteers by the dozen. Labor and Greens, present but outnumbered. It feels tactical. It feels like a seat in play. But then comes the whisper: conservative religious groups — perhaps the Plymouth Brethren — are targeting this seat with subtle but coordinated influence.
The question rises: Should this kind of mobilization be allowed? Legally, yes. But ethically? It walks the line between democracy and distortion. That’s why below-the-line voting matters. That’s why naming the quiet levers of influence matters. That’s why we light the page.