Alex Wehbe, Trumpet of Patriots Party By Catherine Watson
TRUMPET of Patriots Monash candidate Alex Wehbe reckons the party founder Clive Palmer will shake up the Australian establishment the way Donald Trump has done in the US, and that will be no bad thing.
“I don't think Australia is the place it used to be. I don't think it's heading in the right direction, we're going backwards instead of forwards.
“We want to promote change. In previous years we put Liberal or Labor second or third. This year we're going to put them last. We're there to make the change.”
TRUMPET of Patriots Monash candidate Alex Wehbe reckons the party founder Clive Palmer will shake up the Australian establishment the way Donald Trump has done in the US, and that will be no bad thing.
“I don't think Australia is the place it used to be. I don't think it's heading in the right direction, we're going backwards instead of forwards.
“We want to promote change. In previous years we put Liberal or Labor second or third. This year we're going to put them last. We're there to make the change.”
Wehbe is working full time as an accountant in Melbourne so campaigning has to be done in the gaps between work and family. We manage to snatch a phone call over the weekend.
He has no previous connection to Monash and says it’s the first time he’s stood for election, at any level. “I didn't really like Labor or Liberal policy. I saw Trumpet of Patriots was looking for candidates. I looked up their policies and liked them. Then Clive Palmer gave me a call and said he'd like me to run for Monash.
“Originally, I wanted to run for a Melbourne electorate. But I think our policies will sit well with Monash.”
Back in February, when Palmer registered the party, Trump had just taken office as US president and was riding high. He borrowed Trump’s slogan to Make Australia Great Again and promised a Department of Government Efficiency. The US president’s popularity may have slipped a little since then. The Coalition has moved to distance itself. Not Trumpet of Patriots.
He has no previous connection to Monash and says it’s the first time he’s stood for election, at any level. “I didn't really like Labor or Liberal policy. I saw Trumpet of Patriots was looking for candidates. I looked up their policies and liked them. Then Clive Palmer gave me a call and said he'd like me to run for Monash.
“Originally, I wanted to run for a Melbourne electorate. But I think our policies will sit well with Monash.”
Back in February, when Palmer registered the party, Trump had just taken office as US president and was riding high. He borrowed Trump’s slogan to Make Australia Great Again and promised a Department of Government Efficiency. The US president’s popularity may have slipped a little since then. The Coalition has moved to distance itself. Not Trumpet of Patriots.
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Wehbe says Palmer, like Trump, is very business-minded and wants the best for Australia.
As an accountant, he’s naturally interested in the figures. His biggest concern is Australia’s debt, which he says is costing ordinary Australians dearly. “The government is spending way too much money. Debt is the highest it’s ever been. Everything gets more expensive. Instead of government trying to save money they put up fees on all of us to pay for an enormous public service and 60,000 contractors.” He likes the party’s plan to pay off the debt. “We sell $150 billion a year of iron ore and China buys 80 per cent of that. We're going to put a 15 per cent levy on iron ore exports and use that money to pay our debt.” |
Palmer’s parties Trumpet of Patriots is the third political party founded by the mining magnate and multi-billionaire Clive Palmer. * In 2013 he founded the Palmer United Party (PUP), winning one seat in the House of Representatives and three in the Senate. Two of the senators resigned to sit as independents. * Palmer deregistered PUP in 2017 and in 2018 registered the United Australia Party (UAP). UAP won one senate seat in 2022 election. * He deregistered UAP in 2022 and registered Trumpet of Patriots Party in February 2025. |
He says regional development has been underfunded by successive Labor and Liberal governments. “We’re looking at putting in a fast train around the capital cities. It would take 20 minutes from regional areas to the city.”
That would also give a boost to more affordable regional housing. On top of that the party plans to cap interest rates at 3% and allow first home buyers to access up to 30% of their super funds.
“Australia's got the second largest super pool in the world. A lot of it gets invested overseas. We want to invest the money in Australia to create more jobs and get Australia going again.”
Wehbe says the party will also bring “common sense” values back to Australia.
“It’s very different to when I was growing up in Melbourne. We don't need to be welcomed to our own country, we're all Australians.
“We’ll change the curriculum in schools. No more ideology, no more agenda. I've got three young kids, I don't like this ‘he/her/sher’ business. There are male and female.”
At the 2022 election Trumpet of Patriots predecessor the United Australia Party (attracted 4.13 per cent of the primary vote in Monash. How does Wehbe see his chances this time around?
“I guess it’s been a Liberal seat for the last 18 years. I'm not too sure. I feel people still go for Liberal or Labor. They should be looking at the alternatives.”
Candidate responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Trumpet of Patriot policies: https://trumpetofpatriots.org/policies/
That would also give a boost to more affordable regional housing. On top of that the party plans to cap interest rates at 3% and allow first home buyers to access up to 30% of their super funds.
“Australia's got the second largest super pool in the world. A lot of it gets invested overseas. We want to invest the money in Australia to create more jobs and get Australia going again.”
Wehbe says the party will also bring “common sense” values back to Australia.
“It’s very different to when I was growing up in Melbourne. We don't need to be welcomed to our own country, we're all Australians.
“We’ll change the curriculum in schools. No more ideology, no more agenda. I've got three young kids, I don't like this ‘he/her/sher’ business. There are male and female.”
At the 2022 election Trumpet of Patriots predecessor the United Australia Party (attracted 4.13 per cent of the primary vote in Monash. How does Wehbe see his chances this time around?
“I guess it’s been a Liberal seat for the last 18 years. I'm not too sure. I feel people still go for Liberal or Labor. They should be looking at the alternatives.”
Candidate responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Trumpet of Patriot policies: https://trumpetofpatriots.org/policies/