Enraged Aussies fight back against Trumpet of Patriots ‘spam’ text onslaught

Aussies bombarded with campaign text messages are angry and fighting back.

Enraged Australians bombarded with messages from Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots political party are fighting back, posting the publicly available phone number of the person who authorised the tactic.

Social media is being flooded with complaints from people getting repeat messages from Harry Fong, the Trumpet of Patriots’ lead Senate candidate for Queensland.

The messages are signed off by Mr Fong, and urge people to “Vote1 (sic) Trumpet of Patriots”.

Phones started pinging over the weekend, but the messages seemingly ramped up on Monday afternoon and continued well into Tuesday.

Mr Fong is an accredited lawyer, and people have begun posting his mobile phone number online taken from an archived – and now disappeared – page on the Queensland Bar website.

Aussies have been bombarded by texts from the Trumpet of Patriots Party, which were authorised by Harold ‘Harry’ Fong, a Brisbane lawyer who is running as the party’s Senate candidate for Queensland.

“His name is Harry Fong and his info is below. He’s removed his contact info from his QLD Bar bio but I found a previous one with his mobile and email,” one man posted.

“I’ve never been so pleased to be a night owl as I am today. Have at him kids, text him and let him know how much you love his spam and feel free to share this post as wide as possible so everyone can reply to his texts!”

Other people said they were glad Mr Fong’s number was being shared.

“We need a new way to stop the Palmer Trumpet of Patriots unsolicited propaganda texts hitting our texts. I’ve texted that ideologue H Fong to stop. I’ve called the office number you provided it disconnects without answering,” one person posted.

“Obviously he was getting so many messages he’s deleted the number from his website … but a helpful person who screen shot it before he did just shared it with me. Thank you,” said another.

NewsWire rang Mr Fong’s purported number; it did not ring and there was no opportunity to leave a voicemail.

The text messages contain a highly succinct outline of the party’s key policies, including “solve housing fast trains 20 min CBD cheaper land (sic)”, “cut immigration by 80 per cent”, and “double fees for foreign students”, as well as a link to the Trumpet of Patriots’ website.

Harold (Harry) Fong, Trumpet of Patriots candidate, has enraged voters after sending multiple political texts en masse. Picture: Trumpet of Patriots.

The texts do not contain an “opt out” option, which has frustrated some people who have reported receiving up to three texts authorised by Mr Fong since Thursday April 24.

One Reddit user said: “I can’t block them because they come from different numbers and apparently you can’t complain because it’s all legal! I’m enraged.”

“I’ve started spam emailing them out of boredom and hatred.”

According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, sending political text messages during local, state and territory or federal election campaigns is exempt from most spam and telemarketing rules.

Another Reddit user shared Mr Fong’s email address, and the complaint they sent in response to the text messages:

“Dear Mr. Fong, Thank you for reaching out via your unsolicited and cowardly text message — a fitting introduction to the kind of ethically vacant and intellectually bankrupt party you represent,” the user wrote.

“Rest assured, I would not support the Trumpet of Patriot party if it were the only option left standing in a scorched democracy.”

Trumpet of Patriots chairman, Clive Palmer, at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Many commenters said the text message felt like an invasion of privacy, and that in some instances had been sent to their children’s mobiles phones.

“Lots of 17 year olds getting them too! Can’t even vote,” Jacqui Felgate wrote on Instagram, with a “facepalm” emoji.

It is unclear how Mr Fong obtained people’s contact information.

Mr Fong is a criminal defence lawyer who said he was standing with the Trumper of Patriots to “fight against the entrenched political establishment that has put its own interests above those of everyday Australians”.

He is described as a “highly respected barrister with extensive experience in criminal law, civil litigation, dispute resolution, and commercial negotiations” on the party’s website.

Clive Palmer launched the Trumpet of Patriots in February this year, promising to adopt many of the policies of US President Donald Trump.

Originally published as Enraged Aussies fight back against Trumpet of Patriots ‘spam’ text onslaught