Exposed – the Trumpet of Patriots candidate who has bombarded millions of Aussies with text messages – as it backfires badly
Disgruntled Aussies are bombarding the phone of Trumpet of Patriots candidate Harold Fong after he sent millions of text messages advertising the party to voters.
The unsolicited messages were sent en masse on Thursday and featured a link to the party’s website.
‘Solve housing fast trains 20 minute CBD. Super for deposit 3% interest, cut immigration by 80%,’ the texts read.
‘Auth by H Fong Trumpet of Patriots.’
The texts were authorised by Harold ‘Harry’ Fong, a Brisbane lawyer who is running as the party’s Senate candidate for Queensland.
One disgruntled Aussie who had received the text appeared to share Mr Fong’s phone numbers online and encouraged people to ‘treat his inbox the same way he treats yours’.
Others encouraged recipients to ‘respond personally’ or ‘express your displeasure’ at the texts.
The Trumpet of Patriots website described Mr Fong as a ‘highly respected barrister with extensive experience in criminal law, civil litigation, dispute resolution, and commercial negotiations’.
The texts were authorised by Harold ‘Harry’ Fong (pictured), a Brisbane lawyer who is running as the party’s Senate candidate for Queensland
‘How do I stop this junk?’ one woman asked after reading a message from Clive Palmer’s party
‘Mr Fong brings a formidable legal and business background to the campaign,’ it said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Fong for comment.
Aussies were quick to take to social media to slam the ‘invasive’ election campaign tactic on Thursday.
‘I am getting political messages from Trumpet of Patriots group by text. I can’t reply or block, only delete. How do I stop this junk?’ one woman fumed.
Another added: ‘Where did they get my number from? Gross invasion of privacy.’
A third wrote: ‘Has there ever been a party with a more ridiculous name and ideologies than the Trumpet of Patriots? Such a waste of money and time.’
Some recipients took aim at the grammar in the message.
‘What did I just read, did a child write this?’ one asked.
Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party has come under fire for ‘annoying’ SMS ads. Palmer pictured with party leader Suellen Wrightson
Others reported the messages as spam while one man replied ‘f*** off’ to the text.
Aussies also questioned the legality of the messages.
‘Gross – spam texts from the Trumpet of Patriots party. How is this legal to mass spam people?’ one asked.
The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed the party is permitted to send text messages.
‘It is legal,’ an AEC spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Political parties are exempt from the Spam Act and the Do Not Call Register.
‘The AEC does not supply phone numbers to parties and doesn’t know where they get that information from.
‘Text messages do need to be authorised so that people know the source of the messages. That can occur in a website that the message links to though.
The party, led by Suellen Wrightson (pictured) runs on a promise of ‘commonsense policies for all Australians’
‘Regarding the content – as always, it’s the voters job to stop and consider what they hear, see or read this election.’
Mr Palmer has already spent millions to advertise his party on online platforms, television, and billboards across Australia – including in some of the nation’s safest seats.
Despite Mr Palmer’s relative lack of success in recent years, he has refused to back down from politics.
‘I could join many Australians and play lawn bowls, right?’ the 70-year-old told the National Press Club earlier this year.
‘I find this more exciting, talking to you, than playing lawn bowls.’
Mr Palmer’s yellow and black Trumpet party replaced the United Australia Party, promising ‘commonsense policies for all Australians’.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Trumpet of Patriots for comment.
