The schools of a nationwide Christian sect, which Kevin Rudd once labeled a ‘cult’, have had their funding increased by 50 per cent over the last two years.

The controversial EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN church will receive a total of 62 million dollars of taxpayer funds over the next 4 years.

The figures were obtained by the Australian Greens in Senate committee hearings this week.

As opposition leader in 2007 Mr Rudd described the Brethren as an extremist cult that breaks up families.

But now his government appears to be backing the group.

Michael Bachelard is a reporter with the Melbourne Age and wrote a book on the Exclusive Brethren in 2004, called “Behind the Brethren”.

He spoke with 2ser’s Alex Angel.