Mining Magnate Denies Steve Bannon Influenced Australias Largest-Ever Campaign Ad Spend

The mining billionaire says the former Trump advisor’s claim to have dictated Australia’s biggest-ever political ad spend.United Australia Party founder Clive Palmer addresses the media during a press conference in Townsville, Australia, on April 18, 2019. AAP Image/Michael Chambers2/5/2026|Updated: 2/5/2026Mining billionaire and major political backer Clive Palmer has denied claims from political analyst Steve Bannon that his 2019 federal election campaign was influenced by the former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump.The claim was made in text messages released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the Epstein files.Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.Author’s Selected Articles