Clive Palmer suggests Steven Bannon hoped to ‘increase influence’ by claiming credit for 2019 election ads | Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer has denied helping direct Steve Bannon’s advertising blitz in the 2019 federal election and suggested that texts about the strategy released in the Jeffrey Epstein files were an attempt by the former Trump strategist to “increase his own influence” by gaining credibility.

Palmer said he never had contact with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and only spoke to Bannon during a brief, unexpected late-night phone call.

At a press conference to announce Labour’s high court challenge to 2025 reforms on political donations, Palmer claimed the Bannon story was a “beat” by the media and said he did not know why his name came up in a text exchange with Epstein.

“I just think about it [Bannon] “He was trying to use me for a cause to increase his own influence at the time,” Palmer said in a statement Wednesday.

Palmer, a mining magnate and chairman of the United Australia party political movement, denied earlier this week any knowledge of the texts or any connection with Bannon and Epstein.

The written conversation, allegedly between Bannon and an unidentified person known to Epstein, was among some of the documents released by the US Department of Justice in connection with the deceased sex offender.

Bannon, a Donald Trump loyalist and disinformation supporter who ran the US president’s 2016 election campaign, said in messages sent two days after the 2019 Australian election: “I had Clive Palmer do $60 million worth of anti-China and climate change ads.”

_{Sign up: AÜ Breaking News email}

The 2019 federal election was marked by a significant increase in online misinformation and an unprecedented advertising blitz by Palmer’s UAP. Despite polls consistently showing a Labor victory, Scott Morrison’s Coalition government is back.

On Wednesday, Palmer publicly denied any connection to Bannon or Epstein. He claimed he had only spoken to Bannon once, when Trump’s associate contacted him during an unexpected phone call “at midnight, three o’clock” near the 2019 election.

“I don’t remember the exact day, but I was in a deep sleep, dreaming,” Palmer said. “I picked up the phone and this guy said, ‘I’m Steve Bannon.’ And I said, ‘Hi, Steve. Are you a member of our party?’ I said.”

Palmer said he answered Bannon’s call from the United States. Palmer said he told him he could not receive donations from abroad.

“He said, ‘I don’t want to donate… I’m just calling to say you’re running a great campaign against the Chinese. Keep it up.’ I said, ‘Thanks, Steve.’ Then I put the phone down.

“But apparently if you look at the media reports, he wrote some kind of text to Mr. Epstein. I have never met Mr. Epstein.”

Palmer said it was a very brief conversation and he didn’t know how he got Bannon’s number.

Bannon has been contacted for comment.

When asked why Bannon was trying to take credit for the advertising bombardment, Palmer said: “Because it was a success in stopping it at the time. [then Labor leader] Mr [Bill] He was shortened from the Prime Ministry.”

Application to the Supreme Court will be made ‘within 90 days’

Palmer also recently said he would object to Labor’s election reforms that limit the money political parties can receive from outside donors.

His company, Mineralogy, has poured tens of millions of dollars into his political rigs, often with little benefit to voters. Australian Electoral Commission data showed the UAP spent $123.5 million in 2021-22; this is more than both Labor ($116 million) and the Liberals ($118 million), but saw only one senator elected, Ralph Babet.

Data this week showed Mineralogy earned just over $53 million last fiscal year for the Trumpet Patriots, Palmer’s political vehicle in the 2025 election.

Palmer claimed the Labor and Liberal parties were trying to “entrench themselves and silence the competition”.

“All political parties need to be able to communicate in order to fully inform the electorate. Freedom of expression is eliminated with this new law,” he said.

Palmer said he would appeal to the high court “within 90 days.”

Private minister of state Don Farrell said the government was in favor of electoral reforms.

“We knew from day one that billionaires and interest groups would challenge our reforms,” he said.

“We are stopping the influence of big money on our politics by capping donations, capping campaign spending, restricting big donors, increasing transparency and strengthening the powers of the independent Australian Electoral Commission. We look forward to defending any challenges to these reforms.”