A spokesperson for Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has vehemently denied claims made by far-right political strategist Steve Bannon regarding his alleged involvement in Palmer's controversial advertising strategy during the 2019 federal election. The denial comes in response to text messages released by US authorities in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein case, which purportedly show Bannon taking credit for the multi-million dollar campaign.
Bannon's Claims in Released Documents
The controversial claims emerged from a tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Among these documents were text message conversations that appear to be between Steve Bannon and an unidentified individual, with separate files suggesting the other participant was an email account linked to the convicted sex offender Epstein.
In messages sent just two days after the 2019 Australian election, the account purporting to be Bannon states: "I had Clive Palmer do the $60 million anti china and climate change ads." This conversation occurred within the context of discussing the election outcome, which defied poll predictions and returned Scott Morrison's Coalition government to power.
Palmer's Spokesperson Issues Forceful Denial
Andrew Crook, Palmer's media spokesperson, responded to these allegations with unambiguous language via text message on Sunday. "This is made up. Just bullshit," he stated, completely dismissing Bannon's claims as unfounded. The spokesperson emphasized that Bannon's assertions remain untested and lack any substantiation.
The 2019 federal election was notable for several reasons, including a significant increase in online misinformation and an unprecedented advertising campaign by Palmer's United Australia Party. Palmer himself acknowledged during the campaign that he had pivoted his strategy in the final weeks "to polarise the electorate" and undermine Labor's chances of victory.
Context of the 2019 Election Campaign
During the heated election period, Clive Palmer launched a substantial advertising blitz that ultimately reached approximately $70 million in expenditure. One particularly notable advertisement ran for two minutes and made dramatic claims about "communist China" attempting "a clandestine takeover of our country." This messaging aligned with Bannon's previously expressed views about the Australian election campaign.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald conducted about a week before Palmer shifted his advertising focus, Bannon had criticized the campaign as dull and expressed surprise at the lack of discussion about China. "There should be a really intense debate about this," Bannon stated at the time. "They are trying to hold the election on national security, and it should be tied to China."
Impact on Labor's Campaign
Labor's subsequent election review provided significant insight into how Palmer's advertising affected their campaign. The review concluded that the "bizarre" claims in Palmer's advertisements had "a significant negative effect on Bill Shorten's popularity and on Labor's primary vote." Following a preference deal with the Coalition, Palmer coordinated his advertising spend with the Liberal Party during the final two weeks of the campaign.
The review further noted that Palmer's advertising strongly amplified the Coalition's anti-Labor message, particularly targeting economically insecure, low-income voters. In focus groups, Palmer was described in highly derogatory terms, which helps explain the poor vote his party received, yet his sustained attacks on Shorten nevertheless damaged the Labor leader's standing.
Broader Implications and Responses
The release of these documents adds another layer to the complex narrative surrounding the 2019 Australian election, which was already marked by substantial controversy regarding political advertising and misinformation. Bannon, a loyalist to former US President Donald Trump and promoter of misinformation who managed Trump's 2016 election campaign, has not yet provided additional comment on these specific claims.
The conversation in the released documents shows the account linked to Epstein commenting on the failure of published polls to predict the Australian election result, comparing it to "your last go round." The response from the account purporting to be Bannon contains the claim about directing Palmer's advertising strategy regarding China and climate change issues.
This development raises questions about international influence in domestic elections and the verification of claims made in released documents from foreign investigations. As the situation continues to develop, further responses from involved parties may provide additional clarity regarding these serious allegations about election interference and strategic coordination.
