OCCAM’S razor is a philosophical principal that suggests that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is usually the most likely one. In the case of the decision of right-wing Trumpet of Patriots to place Climate 200-backed candidates second on a number of their how-to-vote cards, including for Flinders Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart, the most likely explanations would be that it was a strategic move (at best) or an error in judgment (at worst).
But Clive Palmer had another explanation, quite at odds with the principle of occam’s razor. Instead, Trumpet of Patriots headquarters had somehow been “hacked” and how-to-vote cards “tampered with”.
The issue rose to prominence nationally after the candidate for Flinders announced he would be withdrawing his candidacy for Trumpet of Patriots after the party head office decided Smart would be placing Climate 200-backed candidate Ben Smith second. The head office imposed how-to-vote card came just days after Smart had announced he would be running as a “unified alliance” with One Nation’s Mike Brown, throwing his plans into disarray.
“I was given an undertaking by Clive Palmer and the Trumpet of Patriots that if I ran as a candidate for them, that the Teal/Labor/Greens candidates would be last on the how-to-vote card,” Smart told The News. “I only agreed to run on that basis. “If Clive Palmer thinks I’m going to put my love for my country to the side so he can try and gain some political relevance, he’s dead wrong,” said Smart. “I’m nobody’s chump.”
The original head office how-to-vote card, as well as placing Smith second, had Liberal Zoe McKenzie last, and Labor’s Sarah Race second last, consistent with Palmer’s announcement that Trumpet of Patriots would be placing the “Uni-Party of Labor and Liberal last”.
On Monday (21 April) Smart announced he would be “withdrawing” as a candidate for Trumpet of Patriots and would be, instead assisting Brown with his campaign. While Smart announced his “withdrawal”, he is unable to be removed from the ballot at this late stage. He also told The News it is against AEC rules for him to create a how-to-vote card inconsistent with the one produced by Trumpet of Patriots head office. Smart believed his only option was to ask voters to “put him last”.
Then came the announcement that Trumpet of Patriots had launched an investigation into the “tampering” of the party’s how-to-vote cards. “It has become apparent that a number of our how-to-vote cards have been interfered with,’’ said Trumpet of Patriots’ chairman Clive Palmer. “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. “An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it. We will be correcting the tampered how-to-vote cards immediately.’’
The statement appeared to indicate that some unknown forces had “hacked” the Trumpet of Patriots systems, and perhaps used their graphic design skills to alter the how-to-vote-cards to list a number of Climate 200-backed candidates second.
By the end of the day Tuesday (22 April), there was a new how-to-vote card on Smart’s candidate page on the Trumpet of Patriots’ website. The new card listed One Nation’s Brown second, but had Labor’s Sarah Race fourth, Smith fifth, and Liberal Zoe McKenzie last again.
Asked by The News if this change meant he would resume campaigning for Trumpet of Patriots, Smart said “Absolutely not. It is not the order I would have [approved] except for Mike Brown”. Especially difficult for Smart was the placement of McKenzie last, with Smart saying “A conservative government with One Nation/Liberals going forward is the best outcome for our nation”.
By the Wednesday (23 April), Smart had been expunged from the Trumpet of Patriots’ website, with the message “The page you requested was not found”, with the most likely explanation clearly spelled out: “If you clicked on a link to get here, the link is outdated”.
First published in the Mornington News – 29 April 2025
