Advertisement

Liberal ties with church of supernatural

Pastors: Gerard and Sue Keehan. Picture: Supplied

A northern suburbs church, which embraces supernatural healing and speaking in tongues, has become closely aligned to the Liberal Party with two church members - Environment Minister Albert Jacob and Joondalup MP Jan Norberger - already elected to Parliament.

At least six other members of the Globalheart Church in Joondalup hold senior positions in the Liberal Party's Moore division or have taxpayer-funded jobs in the electorate and ministerial offices of Mr Norberger and Mr Jacob.

A son of Globalheart's husband-and-wife pastors, Gerard and Sue Keehan, is employed in both MPs' offices. But neither MP would discuss the connections when contacted by The Weekend West and issued brief statements in response to a number of specific questions.

"The religious views of the minister have no relevance to his role as a member of Parliament, to his position in Government or his portfolio responsibilities," a statement from Mr Jacob's office said.

He said his staff had been chosen on merit and their religious beliefs were irrelevant.

Mr Norberger said there was "no relationship" between his political party and his church, but during his maiden speech to Parliament in April, the MP thanked more than a dozen Globalheart members for their support.

At least one of those thanked is now working in his electorate office.

"The selection of my staff is strictly merit-based," he said.

"Their own religious beliefs are their own private matter. Similarly, my own religious views have no relevance to my role as the member for Joondalup."

Mr Norberger and the party's Moore division vice-president David Harding, also a senior figure in Globalheart, are involved with the church's business networking group Kingdom First.

Between 2010 and last year, Mr Harding worked in Mr Jacob's Ocean Reef electorate office.

City of Wanneroo councillor Ian Goodenough, who is the Liberal candidate for the Federal seat of Moore, also supports Kingdom First.

The group is open to "women and men, who are in management" and hold key positions in industry and politics.

In a 2011 magazine interview with Pastor Keehan, Mr Jacob said it was important for Christians to get involved in politics because government was impeding on "everyday lives".

"This trend will inevitably lead to restrictions on our freedom to worship, our freedom of association and out freedom of speech," he said.