Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party is investigating the alleged “tampering” of its how-to-vote cards after supporters of the rightwing outfit were encouraged to preference Climate 200-backed independents in several seats.
Palmer said it wasn’t the first time Trumpet of Patriots operations have been “hacked” – without providing evidence to support claims of interference.
Palmer on Saturday announced Trumpet of Patriots would preference incumbent Labor and Liberal MPs last in their respective seats to help “end the two-party duopoly and make Australia great”.
The party’s full how-to-vote cards were subsequently published online, which showed supporters were encouraged to number Climate 200-backed candidates second or third on ballots in several seats including Flinders, Monash, Wannon, Forrest, Berowra and Lyne.
The Trumpet of Patriots candidate in Flinders, Jason Smart, described the decision as “shocking and sinister” as he urged voters to put him last on polling day in protest.
Smart said he had only agreed to run as a candidate after being assured by Palmer that teal, Labor and Greens candidates would be placed last on how-to-vote cards.
“If Clive Palmer thinks I’m going to put my love for my country to the side so he can try and gain some political relevance, he’s dead wrong,” he said in a statement.
“I’m nobody’s chump.”
The how-to-vote cards prompted a backlash in rightwing circles online, with conservative and anti-windfarm groups questioning why Trumpet of Patriots appeared to be supporting progressive independents.
Just hours after early voting opened on Tuesday, Palmer said he had launched an investigation into the “tampering” of the party’s how-to-vote cards.
“It has become apparent that a number of our how-to-vote cards have been interfered with,’’ Palmer said.
“This incident has not happened in isolation as we have been hacked and had our communications interfered with on previous occasions.
“We will be conducting a full investigation into the matter.”
Palmer confirmed incumbent Labor and Coalition MPs would still be preferenced last under the updated cards.
“An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. We will be correcting the tampered how-to-vote cards immediately,” he said.
Guardian Australia contacted Palmer’s representatives for comment.
As Palmer’s statement was issued, a total of 18 how-to-vote cards – including for all seats that preferenced Climate 200-backed candidates second or third – were removed from the party’s website.
Party sources said Palmer had contacted candidates personally on Tuesday, providing assurances that new how-to-vote cards would be printed in coming days.
Psephologist Kevin Bonham predicted Trumpet of Patriots to fall short of even the 4% vote share that Palmer’s old United Australia party secured in 2022, which would not be nearly enough to win a seat in its own right.
Bonham said he expected the party to account for about 0.5% of the vote in most seats.
