Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart urges voters to place him last after controversial how-to-vote card
A Trumpet of Patriots candidate has withdrawn his support for the party and urged voters to put him last, after a Teal independent was placed second on its how-to-vote card.
A Trumpet of Patriots candidate has urged voters to place him last on their ballot papers, saying he was “blindsided” by chairman Clive Palmer’s decision to preference Teal independents in the upcoming federal election.
TOP candidate Jason Smart, who is running in the Liberal-held Victorian seat of Flinders, on Monday announced his withdrawal of support for the right-wing party and encouraged other candidates to follow suit, after controversial preference recommendations on its how-to-vote cards were revealed on Friday.
The father-of-two said preferencing the Teals, Labor and the Greens was a “shocking and sinister” move by the TOP party.
“My wife and I have been sitting here at home in utter disbelief since Friday morning,” Mr Smart said.
“I was given an undertaking by Clive Palmer and the TOP that if I ran as a candidate for them, that the Teal, Labor (and) Greens candidates would be last on the HTV card.
“I only agreed to run on that basis.”
It comes after Teal candidate for Flinders Ben Smith was placed second on the party’s how-to-vote card, a decision Mr Smart said directly opposed his campaigning efforts over the past month.
“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,” he said.
“I’m nobody’s chump”.
Now the third federal election candidate to withdraw following the close of nominations on April 10, Mr Smart said he would now assist the campaign of One Nation candidate Mike Brown, who had preferenced sitting Liberal MP for Flinders Zoe McKenzie.
“Mike Brown of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, has been transparent and upfront with the Australian people about their desire to see the back of Albanese,” he said.
“I share that desire, and that’s why I’m asking the people of Flinders that when they vote, to put me last.
“A vote for the Trumpet of Patriots is a vote for the Teals, and I won’t stand for it.”
Mr Smart is praised on the TOP website as a “strong advocate for policies that put Australian workers and businesses first”.
The Australian has contacted the Trumpet of Patriots for comment.
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