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Son of a billionaire who shaped the election
went from working in Silicon Valley in the 1990s (before it was cool), to renewable energy, building Australia's first community-owned wind farm. In 2019, he burst onto the political scene, spearheading a fundraising group, known as
Simon Holmes à Court
Simon Holmes à Court
Climate 200.
Climate 200.
The fund, which backed more than a dozen independent candidates in marginal seats with the object of ousting the government, didn’t work in 2019.
But it definitely did in 2022.
With policies centred on:
Here’s what you need to know.
Simon Holmes à Court funded the biggest shift in Australian politics in decades.
and six electorate seat wins,
integrity
climate change
gender equality
His dad: Robert Holmes à Court senior, a lawyer-turned-businessman, and Australia's first billionaire, who gave his son an estimated $800 million after his death in 1990.
His mum: Janet Holmes à Court, one of Australia’s wealthiest women, and a major donor to Climate 200.
FILTHY RICH FAMILY
FILTHY RICH FAMILY
Climate 200 began during the 2019 federal election, when Holmes à Court and his mates raised $500,000 to support 12 Independent candidates. It resurfaced in 2022 for the same purpose - but isn't a political party. Candidates sponsored are "strictly independent", and the funding comes with "no strings attached" according to Holmes à Court.
ORIGIN STORY
ORIGIN STORY
"Cross my heart and hope to die that all the campaigns we are supporting started from inside their own electorates... Striking at the root means getting people into parliament who are strong, independent and ready to hold governments accountable."
SIMON HOLMES à COURT
The former chair of the Coalition's Indigenous Advisory Council, Nyunggai Warren Mundine took a swipe at Holmes à Court on Twitter, writing: “Filthy rich man trying to influence the election via the All White … Climate 200 party”.
He also likened him to a “Clive Palmer … on the left”.
à COURT IN CONTROVERSY
à COURT IN CONTROVERSY
Holmes à Court was previously aligned with Liberal politicians, even joining a group known as the Kooyong 200 Club fundraising group in early 2017 — started by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Things changed when Holmes à Court wrote a column for The Guardian in 2018, which included a line criticising Frydenberg.
PREVIOUS POLITICS
PREVIOUS POLITICS
Holmes à Court suggested within 24 hours of the column being run, his membership to the Kooyong 200 Club had been rejected and a donation had been returned to his account. In 2022, Frydenberg was the most notable politician to lose a seat to Climate 200-backed candidate Monique Ryan.
TIDES CHANGE
TIDES CHANGE
WORDS: Joanna PanagopoulosPRODUCER: Bianca Farmakis																		

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/web-stories/free/the-australian/the-son-of-a-billionaire-who-shaped-the-election