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Australian politicians Clive Palmer and Pauline Hanson have clashed after their attempt to unite their parties failed. The two leaders disagreed on who would lead and fund the new movement, causing talks to collapse.
Palmer Launches New Party
Clive Palmer has now decided to move forward with his own party, called Trumpet of Patriots. He had originally tried to re-register the United Australia Party, but legal issues prevented it. Mr. Palmer said he would campaign on a Donald Trump-style platform in the upcoming election.
Clive Palmer has announced his new political party Trumpet of Patriots.
— Kobie Thatcher (@KobieThatcher) February 19, 2025
A media release stated the party will "adopt many of the policies of Donald Trump and drain the swamp of Canberra."
Make Australia Great Again! 🎺 pic.twitter.com/d9TH7Zww19
Hanson Wanted to Be "President for Life"
Mr. Palmer claimed that Senator Hanson wanted to be the permanent leader of their new party, which he said was not possible. "I said, 'Well, you can't be president for life. Not even I can be president for life,'" he stated.
However, a spokesperson for Senator Hanson denied this and said One Nation was not for sale.
Aging Populist Leaders and a Divided Right
This failed merger highlights the aging leadership of right-wing populist politics in Australia. Mr. Palmer and Ms. Hanson are both 70, while another well-known figure, Bob Katter, is 79. Their long dominance has made it difficult for younger leaders to emerge.
Political experts believe that Clive Palmer’s new party will further divide right-wing votes in the upcoming election. In 2022, Mr. Palmer spent over $120 million on his campaign but won just one Senate seat. One Nation, despite running in almost every lower house seat, only secured two Senate seats.
With neither major party expected to win a clear majority in the next election, figures like Bob Katter could play a key role in deciding who forms government. However, experts suggest that Palmer and Hanson may be in the final stages of their political careers, struggling to stay relevant in a changing political landscape.
