Australian billionaire Palmer launches Trump-inspired political party

19/2/2025 13:01

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer launched on Wednesday a political party he said was directly inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump, months out from a nationwide federal election.



Mining magnate Palmer said his Trumpet of Patriots party would "drain the swamp" in the country's capital Canberra, a reference to Trump's plans to drastically cut the size of government.



Palmer told a news conference announcing the launch, "We think Donald Trump's been very effective in reducing public expenditure."



Palmer was critical of mass immigration and said the party would only recognise two genders, reflecting positions also favoured by Trump.



Palmer said, Trumpet of Patriots plans to stand candidates in all 150 seats in Australia's lower house, as well as the upper chamber, known as the Senate.

Palmer, Australia's 18th richest person with a net worth of $2.1 billion according to Forbes, previously led the right-wing United Australia Party (UAP), sitting as a lawmaker in the lower house for three years from 2013.



Palmer spent around A$100 million ($63.52 million) on campaigning for the UAP in the last federal election, yielding a single Senator in the upper house.