Hillsong founder's daughter rants against media scrutiny
The daughter of Hillsong founder Brian Houston has attacked the media in an online rant, while defending the religious group's party that outraged Australia.
Laura Toggs, one of Brian's two children, is a pastor of Hillsong's "youth ministry" along with her husband Peter, and the pair are believed to be the key organisers of the recent youth camp in Newcastle.
The event caused outrage across Australia, as music festivals and concerts were cancelled due to a new public health order, yet the event was allowed to go ahead on a religious basis as attendees were filmed partying maskless.
Hillsong Church later apologised for the "perception that we were not playing our part to keep NSW safe ... we sincerely apologise to the community at large."
Despite their apology, Laura Toggs took to Instagram to slam the media in the wake of the controversy against the religious group.
"I have watched the media willingly disregard any fairness for the sake of click-bait and to suit whatever profit they make off their agendas," she wrote.
She labelled the media coverage of the event as "disgusting", "horrible", "immoral" and "low", and went on to claim the news outlets were "destroying peoples' lives one cheap headline at a time."
While Ms Toggs didn't share any of the "disgusting" news articles that seemingly slated her event, she said it was "heartbreaking to watch people believe the lies".
She went on to tell her followers that if they wanted to fill their minds with these sources, "then go ahead and buy into whatever s*** they spoon feed you."
"But if you want truth to frame your heart and soul and mind, let the Bible be your source of wisdom and truth and guidance."
After sharing a video that addressed the camp party, she told followers she was "mad".
"I'm mad at the media reports that made our youth camps not only a national disgrace but an international news story."
Laura continued on her rant by claiming the government has changed the rules on the organisation due to "media pressure", and not because of rising Omicron cases.
"There is a clear agenda to drag Hillsong through the mud and to destroy our name," Ms Toggs claimed.
After the public backlash of the event, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Hillsong would escape a fine for the camp part, but said the organisers should face the consequences of flouting Covid restrictions.
Laura ended her rant by urging her followers to "turn off the news, turn to the Word of God".
As news of the event broke, Mr Perrottet said that he understood why the camp party angered so many Australians.
"I echoed the frustration and anger other people right across the state felt," he said.
"Even if technically it was within the rules, it certainly wasn't in the spirit of the rules. If we have to tighten loopholes, we will."
Image credits: Instagram @lauratoggs @hillsong