Clive Palmer’s party captures sole Senate seat despite $100m spend

Clive Palmer funnelled millions into advertising during the election and all he got in return was one thing.

Clive Palmer may have failed to capture any lower house seats in the federal election, but his $100m advertising spend has been rewarded with a Senate seat in Victoria.

Ralph Babet, who also goes by Deej Babet, will trade his real estate job for a spot on the upper house benches when parliament returns in July.

He was elected to the sixth Senate spot in Victoria, unseating Liberal Greg Mirabella, who filled the vacancy left by Scott Ryan.

United Australian Party senator-elect Ralph Babet.

The UAP candidate received around 4 per cent of the vote and was elected off the back of preferences.

In Victoria, the state most impacted by pandemic lockdowns, the UAP had a swing of 1.47 per cent.

In his candidate profile, Mr Babet likens vaccine mandates to “segregation” and accused the government of being authoritarian.

Mr Babet’s election is the sole return for the major spend undertaken by the mining magnate, who had been hoping for a return to parliament himself via the Queensland Senate ticket.

His party campaigned heavily on the issue of “freedom” and opposing Covid lockdowns and vaccine mandates.

Clive Palmer failed to return to parliament. Picture: Scott Powick

Earlier this month, Mr Palmer defended his campaign mega spend, insisting it was worth it.

“You can’t put a price on liberty. Good ideas are what matters for this country,” he said.

“Governments may come and go but freedom goes on forever.”

Liberal Sarah Henderson, the Nationals’ Bridget McKenzie, Labor’s Linda White and Jana Stewart and the Greens’ Lidia Thorpe were also confirmed as winning Victorian Senate seats by the Australian Electoral Commission on Monday.

A new-look upper house is now expected to include 32 Coalition senators, 26 Labor senators, 12 Greens, two One Nation senators, two Jacqui Lambie Network senators as well as Mr Babet from the UAP and independent David Pocock.

Originally published as Clive Palmer’s party captures sole Senate seat despite $100m spend