Endless election spam angers millions: Australians seek answers!

As the political climate heats up in Australia, so does the frustration of countless citizens over an election strategy that hits a little too close to home—literally. 

In the lead-up to the May 3 election, millions of Australians have been bombarded with unsolicited text messages from Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party, leaving many to wonder how to escape the relentless digital onslaught. 

The texts arrived en masse last Thursday and touted the party’s platform with promises such as ‘Solve housing fast trains 20 minute CBD. Super for deposit 3 per cent interest, cut immigration by 80 per cent,’ and were signed off with ‘Auth by H Fong Trumpet of Patriots’. 

The messages included a link to the party’s website but did not provide a straightforward way for recipients to opt out.

Social media platforms quickly became a sounding board for the aggrieved, with Australians expressing their annoyance at what they deemed an ‘invasive’ campaign tactic. 

‘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 exasperated recipient posted. Others questioned the source of their contact information, calling it a ‘gross invasion of privacy’.

The content of the messages themselves also came under scrutiny, with some recipients mocking the grammar and questioning the competence of the party’s only sitting representative, Senator Ralph Babet. 

‘I’m getting texts from Trumpet of Patriots, and the grammar is horrendous. That tells me that Babet is writing them himself,’ one critic suggested, while another quipped, ‘Wow. Seems Trumpet of Patriots have an actual chimpanzee writing their unsolicited text messages.’

Amidst the uproar, some recipients reported the messages as spam, and others responded with less-than-polite replies. 

The legality of these unsolicited texts was also questioned, prompting the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to clarify that political parties are indeed exempt from the Spam Act and the Do Not Call Register. 

‘It is legal,’ an AEC spokesman explained, adding that while the AEC does not supply phone numbers to parties, the messages must be authorised so recipients know the source.

Despite the controversy, Clive Palmer remains undeterred. The 70-year-old mining magnate, who has spent millions on advertising his party through various media, has shown no signs of stepping back from the political arena. 

‘I could join many Australians and play lawn bowls, right? I find this more exciting, talking to you, than playing lawn bowls,’ he remarked at the National Press Club.

The Trumpet of Patriots party, which emerged from the ashes of the United Australia Party, pledges ‘commonsense policies for all Australians’. 

Yet, for many Australians, the common sense approach to political campaigning seems to be lost in a sea of unwanted text messages.

For those seeking to stop the digital deluge, the options are limited. While reporting the messages as spam is one avenue, engaging with political representatives to express concerns about privacy and the need for opt-out mechanisms may be a more effective long-term strategy.

As the AEC spokesman noted, voters are ultimately responsible for critically assessing the information they receive during election time.

We understand the importance of staying informed without being overwhelmed. We encourage our readers to share their experiences with election-related spam and to discuss how they believe political campaigning should adapt to respect the privacy and preferences of voters. What are your thoughts on the matter? Have you received similar messages, and how have you dealt with them? Let us know in the comments below!

Also read: Telstra apologises and pays for costly violation of Australia’s strict spam laws