Reports say members of an ultra-conservative religious sect have won the rights to import COVID-19 tests and supply them to federal and state governments.

The Exclusive Brethren is a politically powerful evangelical church that abides by a strict interpretation of the Bible, preaching a doctrine of separation that encourages adherents to shun many aspects of modernity.

The church was branded an “extremist cult that breaks up families” by former prime minister Kevin Rudd. 

The church is led by Bruce D Hale, whose sons, Gareth and Charles, have been named as the suppliers of more than $1 billion worth of contracts to supply the UK with COVID-19 tests via Unispace Global Limited.

Another son, Dean, is linked to companies that won more than $30 million in government contracts to supply COVID tests to Australian governments.

More details are accessible here.