 Deb Leonard, Independent |  Russell Broadbent, Independent |
By Catherine Watson
The Trumpet of Patriots Party is hastily reprinting their How to Vote cards for the Monash electorate after preferencing the wrong independent.
Supporters of Teal independent Deb Leonard were surprised – and delighted – to find their candidate was listed at Number 2 on Trumpet of Patriots candidate Alex Wehbe’s How to Vote card.
The Trumpet of Patriots Party is hastily reprinting their How to Vote cards for the Monash electorate after preferencing the wrong independent.
Supporters of Teal independent Deb Leonard were surprised – and delighted – to find their candidate was listed at Number 2 on Trumpet of Patriots candidate Alex Wehbe’s How to Vote card.
It proved to be too good to be true for Leonard when the HTV card was hastily recalled yesterday as early voting started, and removed from the party’s website.
The reprinted cards are expected to preference the other independent – Russell Broadbent – at Number 2 as part of his preference deal with the minor parties.
There was no sign of Trumpet of Patriots supporters at early polling centres today, presumably as they had nothing to hand out.
Trumpet of Patriots Chairman Clive Palmer claimed cards in 18 electorates had been hacked.
"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."
The party is preferencing the two major parties last this election in an attempt to break up the political duopoly.
At the 2022 election Trumpet of Patriots predecessor, the United Australia Party, secured 4.13 % of the primary votes. Their vote is expected to drop this time with the decline in President Donald Trump’s fortunes in the US but could still be significant in a tight contest.
The reprinted cards are expected to preference the other independent – Russell Broadbent – at Number 2 as part of his preference deal with the minor parties.
There was no sign of Trumpet of Patriots supporters at early polling centres today, presumably as they had nothing to hand out.
Trumpet of Patriots Chairman Clive Palmer claimed cards in 18 electorates had been hacked.
"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."
The party is preferencing the two major parties last this election in an attempt to break up the political duopoly.
At the 2022 election Trumpet of Patriots predecessor, the United Australia Party, secured 4.13 % of the primary votes. Their vote is expected to drop this time with the decline in President Donald Trump’s fortunes in the US but could still be significant in a tight contest.