Trumpet of the Patriots: Clive Palmer’s bold new move before the election
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Australian politics is no stranger to shake-ups, but a new player has entered the scene with bold ambitions and a controversial name.
Just weeks before the federal election, a familiar figure is making headlines once again—this time with a party that promises to disrupt the status quo in a big way.
What’s behind this latest political move?
Mining magnate Clive Palmer launched a new political party, Trumpet of the Patriots, just weeks before the federal election.
The party echoed former US President Donald Trump's populist rhetoric.
The party replaced Palmer’s United Australia Party, which he had unsuccessfully attempted to re-register through the High Court.
A temporary website for the party declared that Australians had ‘suffered from a Labor and Liberal duopoly of power supported by the Greens and now the Teals.’
It claimed that the rising cost of living was the result of ‘the political system, unelected bureaucrats and the lobbyists who support them.’
Palmer’s party vowed to ‘drain the swamp’ and eliminate government ‘waste and corruption’ in Canberra.
Political strategist Glenn O’Rourke, the party’s registered officer, told 2SM that it aimed to restore Australia’s representative democracy.
‘We want to see a country where in the political system the candidates commit to serving the people who elect them and not a party or an international corporation or organisation,’ O’Rourke said.
The party planned to field candidates in all lower house and open Senate seats, with applications closing at the end of February.
Hopeful candidates were required to submit a federal police check, a $100 nomination fee, and a brief biography along with responses to a questionnaire.
2SM’s Chris Smith suggested that Palmer’s new party could fracture the conservative vote, potentially undermining a Coalition-led minority government under Peter Dutton.
It was reported that the party was originally registered as the Country Alliance in 2011 before undergoing several name changes.
In 2020, it became the Australian Federation Party, before being rebranded as Trumpet of the Patriots last year.
This election marked Palmer’s last opportunity to fund a large-scale campaign before new donation and spending caps took effect next year.
During the 2022 election, Palmer spent over $120million, resulting in more than 600,000 lower house votes and over half a million Senate votes.
Despite the heavy spending, only one Senate seat was secured—held by controversial Senator Ralph Babet.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the new party, criticising Palmer’s past campaign expenditures.
‘A bloke who spends over $100million to deliver one senate seat with a bloke who sits in the corner and just engages in conspiracy theories I don’t think represents value for money,’ Albanese said.
He argued that Palmer’s spending distorted democracy and described the party’s advertisements as ‘strange.’
‘At the moment, there’s only one serious political party at the moment in Australia (Labor),’ he added.
He also rejected the idea that Palmer’s party posed a credible alternative to the current government.
‘The alternative government is a mob that have, after three years, produced three policies,’ Albanese said.
The federal election was required to take place on or before 17 May.
In a previous story, experts warned that Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs could have serious consequences for Australians, particularly when it comes to the cost of everyday goods.
With Clive Palmer now echoing Trump’s rhetoric in his latest political move, questions are being raised about how these policies could impact Australia.
Read more about the potential financial fallout here.
With Clive Palmer making yet another bold move in Australian politics, will Trumpet of the Patriots shake up the election or fade like his previous ventures?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Just weeks before the federal election, a familiar figure is making headlines once again—this time with a party that promises to disrupt the status quo in a big way.
What’s behind this latest political move?
Mining magnate Clive Palmer launched a new political party, Trumpet of the Patriots, just weeks before the federal election.
The party echoed former US President Donald Trump's populist rhetoric.
The party replaced Palmer’s United Australia Party, which he had unsuccessfully attempted to re-register through the High Court.
Clive Palmer launches new political party ahead of election. Image source: United Australia Party/Instagram/realdonaldtrump
A temporary website for the party declared that Australians had ‘suffered from a Labor and Liberal duopoly of power supported by the Greens and now the Teals.’
It claimed that the rising cost of living was the result of ‘the political system, unelected bureaucrats and the lobbyists who support them.’
Palmer’s party vowed to ‘drain the swamp’ and eliminate government ‘waste and corruption’ in Canberra.
Political strategist Glenn O’Rourke, the party’s registered officer, told 2SM that it aimed to restore Australia’s representative democracy.
‘We want to see a country where in the political system the candidates commit to serving the people who elect them and not a party or an international corporation or organisation,’ O’Rourke said.
The party planned to field candidates in all lower house and open Senate seats, with applications closing at the end of February.
Hopeful candidates were required to submit a federal police check, a $100 nomination fee, and a brief biography along with responses to a questionnaire.
2SM’s Chris Smith suggested that Palmer’s new party could fracture the conservative vote, potentially undermining a Coalition-led minority government under Peter Dutton.
It was reported that the party was originally registered as the Country Alliance in 2011 before undergoing several name changes.
In 2020, it became the Australian Federation Party, before being rebranded as Trumpet of the Patriots last year.
This election marked Palmer’s last opportunity to fund a large-scale campaign before new donation and spending caps took effect next year.
During the 2022 election, Palmer spent over $120million, resulting in more than 600,000 lower house votes and over half a million Senate votes.
Despite the heavy spending, only one Senate seat was secured—held by controversial Senator Ralph Babet.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the new party, criticising Palmer’s past campaign expenditures.
‘A bloke who spends over $100million to deliver one senate seat with a bloke who sits in the corner and just engages in conspiracy theories I don’t think represents value for money,’ Albanese said.
He argued that Palmer’s spending distorted democracy and described the party’s advertisements as ‘strange.’
‘At the moment, there’s only one serious political party at the moment in Australia (Labor),’ he added.
He also rejected the idea that Palmer’s party posed a credible alternative to the current government.
‘The alternative government is a mob that have, after three years, produced three policies,’ Albanese said.
The federal election was required to take place on or before 17 May.
In a previous story, experts warned that Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs could have serious consequences for Australians, particularly when it comes to the cost of everyday goods.
With Clive Palmer now echoing Trump’s rhetoric in his latest political move, questions are being raised about how these policies could impact Australia.
Read more about the potential financial fallout here.
With Clive Palmer making yet another bold move in Australian politics, will Trumpet of the Patriots shake up the election or fade like his previous ventures?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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