Australian rehab founder Peter Lyndon-James to resign next year after migration remarks

Australian rehab entrepreneur Peter Lyndon-James, founder and chief executive of Shalom House, said he will step down next year, claiming he has been muzzled by the board from speaking out on mass migration. In a resignation letter, he said he could no longer work in the role with a muzzle on him when the passion to speak out is so strong within him, adding that his words spoken and posts publicly can have an effect on Shalom and on those who support it, which he does not want to happen.

He apologized to the public and some supporters for recent social media posts, which were later deleted, and he defended his stance during a Monday address to his 160 residents. He argued that the debate over immigration has real implications for housing and affordability in Australia, linking rising rents and house prices to population pressures.

During the speech, Mr Lyndon-James cited a Beechboro home open that his son attended where he said prices demonstrated demand dynamics: a property listed at about 720,000 dollars allegedly sold for 960,000 dollars after 200 people lined up for the sale. He noted another example where a house advertised at 720,000 dollars sold for 960,000 dollars and argued that such dynamics, along with soaring rental costs, make it difficult for a single-income family to live on a budget. The remarks included a controversial line about migration and civic culture, stating that if a country experiences mass immigration without assimilation, its traditional identity could erode.

The former addict-turned-preacher asserted that he is not opposed to immigration per se, but voiced concerns about the scale of recent migration. He cited a figure of 470,000 immigrants last year and warned that unchecked arrivals could outpace integration efforts. He said, in part, that Australia should preserve its cultural norms and values, and that he hoped there could be a pause in mass migration to allow time for assimilation.

I am not against immigration, but I do hold personal concerns about mass migration. When I looked at that last March for Australia rally there was over 15,000 people in that city, there was probably 40 neo-Nazis. A majority of Australians are concerned about mass immigration, he said.

Despite the remarks, Lyndon-James emphasized that he remained concerned about the broader housing crisis and its impact on families, and he reiterated that he did not intend to attack migrants personally. He told supporters that his posts had attracted both support and accusations of racism, fascism, and neo-Nazi associations, which he said he regrets having caused, though he maintained his right to voice his views as a private individual.

The public controversy comes as Lyndon-James has long been a focal point of criticism and debate. Since opening Shalom House in 2012, he has built a five-stage rehabilitation program that relies on his own experiences with meth addiction and street life. Residents are required to convert to Christianity, abstain from swearing and smoking, and work full-time while detoxing. On entry, male residents have their heads shaved and piercings removed, and they sign an enduring power of attorney transferring financial control to Shalom House. Critics have argued that the program relies on an unverified model and lacks robust data on outcomes.

An independent review in 2019 by Community News Group found that of roughly 1,000 men who entered the program, only 49 completed it, a graduation rate of about five percent. By comparison, publicly funded services typically report graduation rates around 35 percent. Lyndon-James has previously defended the program, saying it has helped many though critics say the metrics do not support the claimed success rate.

The board response to Lyndon-James’s migration remarks has been otherwise cautious. In a statement, WA Shalom Group board member Mike Price said at no time did the board attempt to silence or restrict the outspoken leader’s personal opinions. You are entitled to share personal views on your own platform, he wrote, adding that while your position as founder gives your words influence, the board respects your right to speak in a personal capacity, separate from your professional duties.

The resignation discussions are ongoing, the board said, with Lyndon-James indicating he would depart next year. The development places Shalom House at a crossroads as it faces scrutiny over its methods, its impact on residents, and how it navigates public concerns about immigration and housing policy in a nation grappling with a long-running affordability crisis.