The tweet has since been deleted but this masthead has obtained screenshots.
A Hillsong spokesperson said: As global senior pastors of a church with locations across the world, Pastors Brian and Bobbie spend several months each year based in the USA which is the location of Hillsongs global office and Hillsong Channel.
As well as speaking at our US churches they do work connected with our leadership college and Hillsong music. They applied for travel as per standard government guidelines and adhere to all government directives.
The spokesperson confirmed the Houstons also gained an exemption to travel to the US for several months last year.
Since March 2020, Australian citizens and permanent residents have required a travel exemption from Australian Border Force in order to leave the country. The ABF granted 66,000 applications in the first half of this year, an approval rate of 43 per cent.
Exemptions are granted in specific categories, with the three main reasons to leave Australia including having plans to be absent for more than three months, needing to travel for compassionate and compelling reasons, and travel for critical industries and business. Other categories include urgent medical treatment, urgent and unavoidable personal business, response to the COVID-19 outbreak and national interest.
It is not clear which exemption category the Houstons trip falls under. The Australian Border Force has been contacted for comment.
The border is also closed for in-bound travel, with foreign nationals requiring a travel exemption in addition to a visa to enter Australia.
The Sun-Herald reported on Sunday that the Australian Border Force approved 75 in-bound travel exemptions for foreign clergy and religious assistants to enter Australia from January to June. Hillsong has confirmed it has not used any in-bound exemptions.
Over the weekend Brian Houston also posted – and then deleted – a tweet to announce the death of Stephen Harmon, a member of Hillsong in Los Angeles where Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Chris Pratt have reportedly sat in attendance.
Mr Harmon, 34, died from COVID-19, after having posted anti-vaccine views in recent months, including I got 99 problems, but a vax aint one. Mr Houston, who described Mr Harmon as one of the most generous people I know, told CNN COVID-19 vaccines are a personal decision for each individual to make with the counsel of medical professionals.
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Brian and Bobbie Houston, the husband and wife team who are co-global senior pastors at Hillsong Church, took part in a service at the Hillsong Monterrey congregation in Mexico.
