A Labor MP has been accused of trying to stop fraud allegations against the Hillsong megachurch being aired in parliament.
Natalie Louise Moses has sued the federal government claiming she was victimised as a whistleblower exposing misconduct within the church.
She worked with Hillsong for three years from March 2020.
In March 2022, after the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission commenced an investigation into Hillsong, Ms Moses was tasked with managing the church's internal response.
Five months later, she sued Hillsong, claiming she had been victimised as a protected whistleblower for exposing excessive spending, misuse of funds and tax evasion.
Hillsong denied the allegations but settled the lawsuit with Ms Moses in March the following year.
The whistleblower launched further Federal Court proceedings in January claiming she was also victimised by Labor's Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh.
She is seeking compensation and damages.
Documents released by the court on Tuesday allege Dr Leigh interfered three times with attempts by independent MP Andrew Wilkie to speak about the Hillsong allegations.
His actions delayed the parliamentary speech for months, prejudicing Ms Moses in her lawsuit against Hillsong, she claimed.
Speaking to AAP, Ms Moses described just wanting to tell the truth about the church where she worked and worshipped.
The matter turned political after Labor's interference, she said.
"I was put through the wringer," Ms Moses said.
"No one who is doing the right thing should be treated as badly as I was by politicians who are meant to care about us."
Dr Leigh is accused of falsely telling Mr Wilkie in September 2022 that Ms Moses did not want her allegations aired in parliament.
A month later, Labor said it would oppose the tabling of documents through the speech - a move she says was materially influenced by Dr Leigh.
Weeks before Mr Wilkie disclosed the allegations in March 2023, Ms Moses claims she experienced pressure from Dr Leigh and her lawyer Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn not to table the documents.
The speech went ahead regardless.
"Last year a whistleblower provided me with financial records and board papers that show that Hillsong is breaking numerous laws in Australia and around the world relating to fraud, money laundering and tax evasion," Mr Wilkie said at the time.
Mr Bornstein terminated his retainer with Ms Moses after the speech, saying she had not followed his legal advice, the pleadings claim.
Dr Leigh's interference caused two psychological breakdowns, reputational harm and added expense in finding new legal representation, Ms Moses says.
The Labor MP also provided statements to a Herald Sun journalist in July 2023 which Ms Moses claims were false, misleading and portrayed her as a liar.
In that interview, he said he spoke with Mr Bornstein to see if tabling the documents would be harmful to Ms Moses as a whistleblower.
She denies any harm, saying tabling the material actually helped settle her lawsuit with Hillsong after a traumatic three-month-long mediation.
The federal government is being sued as being liable for the Labor MP's actions.
Mr Bornstein has not been pursued and does not face any allegations of wrongdoing.
However, Ms Moses has targeted ACNC Commissioner Sue Woodward, accusing her of victimisation through a statement issued the day after Mr Wilkie's parliamentary speech.
Ms Woodward issued an unnecessary correction in a way that undermined the credibility of the independent MP's remarks, Ms Moses claims.
This shielded the church from reputational harm while ignoring the potential harm to the whistleblower, court documents say.
Ms Woodward also did not correct a further statement made by Hillsong after settling its dispute with Ms Moses where it claimed the allegations of fraud were due to a "misunderstanding".
In December 2024, Hillsong agreed to an 18-month enforceable undertaking after the charities commission raised concerns about governance, record-keeping and reporting.
Hillsong agreed to the undertaking, saying it had changed its board and reviewed its policies and procedures.
Dr Leigh, the ACNC, Maurice Blackburn and Mr Wilkie declined to comment.
The matter will next come before court on June 19.
