Clive Palmer’s millions didn’t pay off, Adam Bandt clings to seat while Greens smashed, One Nation gets no seats

It’s been a shocker for the minor parties – and the actions of Clive Palmer’s cashed-up Trumpets proves it.

It’s been an election to forget for Australia’s minor parties.

The Greens recorded poor results throughout the country, while One Nation claimed no seats and Clive Palmer’s newly-named Trumpets party flunked.

We take a closer look at how the minor parties performed >>>

TRUMPET OF THE PATRIOTS: HOW MANY SEATS DID CLIVE PALMER WIN?

Billionaire Clive Palmer spent tens of millions on advertising and mass text campaigns for his newly named Trumpet of the Patriots. The investment has not paid off.

The biggest flop came from party leader Suellen Wrightson — dubbed ‘Australia’s next Prime Minister during the campaign — in the electorate of Hunter, near the NSW Central Coast.

Labor incumbent Dan Repacholi is projected to hold onto the seat and as of Sunday morning Ms Wrightson has received 3.36 per cent of votes.

In a shock move, she took to social media on Saturday to thank her fellow Hunter candidates ... before locking her Facebook and X accounts in the evening.

“To my fellow Hunter candidates, thanks for a respectful & engaging debate about what we need in our community,” she wrote on X.

“One thing we can all agree on is Australia is the best country on earth & our collective future is worth fighting for.”

Suellen Wrightson has locked her Facebook page. Picture: Facebook

Despite running candidates in almost every electorate, the Trumpt of Patriots had nationally only picked up 2.1 per cent of the primary vote by 11pm on Saturday and failed to pick up any seats.

The party performed the strongest in Queensland, capturing 3.52 per cent of the primary vote as of 11pm Saturday. In NSW the party only received 1.9 per cent of the vote, while in Victoria they had the poorest results of 1.2 per cent of the vote.

While Senate votes were still being counted at the time of publication, Trumpet of the Patriots were trailing behind One Nation and Legalise Cannabis Party in the Upper House.

Billionaire Clive Palmer spent tens of millions on advertising and mass text campaigns for his newly named Trumpet of the Patriots. The investment has not paid off. Picture: Getty

Across the board Trumpet of the Patriots candidates fared poorly. In the Sydney electorate of Reid, where candidate David Sarikaya was attempting to dislodge Labor incumbent Sally Sitou, he only received 1.57 per cent of the vote as of 11pm. This was after multiple reports Mr Sarikaya had formerly been bankrupt.

Advisement for the Trumpet of Patriots. Suellen Wrightson

Earlier in the week Clive Palmer told The Daily Telegraph that he had spent up to $60 million on the election campaign and was unconcerned about the screening process of his candidates. He said the party’s screening process for potential candidates was “as vigorous as both the Liberal and Labor parties”.

Pauline Hanson’s right wing party did not up any seats in the lower house. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

PAULINE HANSON: ONE NATION

As voters fled the Coalition, delivering a crushing defeat in Saturday’s election, many of those votes went instead to One Nation.

Pauline Hanson’s right wing party may not have picked up any seats in the lower house but was favoured with swings around the country.

As of 11pm Saturday, One Nation had received a 1.22 per cent swing in their favour. At the time they had received 6.24 percent of the vote. In NSW they received a swing of 1.08 per cent.

Pauline Hanson’s party gained swings towards it in every state and territory, with the largest in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

In the NSW electorate of Hunter, One Nation candidate Stuart Bonds had an early surge ahead of Nationals candidate Sue Gilroy, receiving a massive 6.24 per cent swing and a higher portion of the early vote.

Though the seat was retained by Labor incumbent Dan Repacholi, at the time of publication, both Mr Bonds and Ms Gilroy received an equal share of the vote.

With more voters turning away from the major parties, One Nation has been capitalising on the disaffected vote.

In the Hunter, where voters were subjected to a mass text campaign by billionaire Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of the Patriots, Mr Bonds said they had done One Nation a favour.

Mr Bonds said a lack of Trumpet campaigners on the ground meant One Nation could lap up the disaffected vote.

“If I could get a message to Clive I would say thank you. He’s done us a massive favour,” he said.

“He may as well have taken the $60m he spent on the campaign and set it on fire.”

Adam Bandt has held onto his Melbourne seat with a commanding 68.5 per cent of the two-party preferred vote. Picture: Getty

THE GREENS: HOW MANY SEATS DID ADAM BANDT WIN?

The Greens have been obliterated in Queensland in a stunning end to the 2022 “Greenslide”.

Party Leader Adam Bandt has held onto his Melbourne seat with a commanding 68.5 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

However, early numbers show Queensland MPs Max Chandler-Mather and Elizabeth Watson-Brown have lost their seats to Labor.

Labor’s Renee Coffey surged ahead in Griffith with a remarkable 57 per cent two-party-preferred result, reclaiming the seat with a massive 17.4 per cent swing against the Greens.

Mr Chandler-Mather, who came into the election on a healthy 10. 5 per cent margin lost the seat after retaining a strong primary vote of over 36 per cent.

Ms Watson-Brown who was defending a slim 2.6 per cent margin, has suffered a 1.2 per cent swing, with Labor’s Rebecca Hack securing 56.8 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote

Greens MP Stephen Bates faced a tight contest, narrowly leading with 51.7 per cent against LNP’s Trevor Evans despite a 2 per cent swing towards the Coalition.

Despite a notable 12.1 per cent increase in the Greens’ primary vote, Labor’s Justine Elliot is also looking to retain her Richmond seat with 58.2 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.

The Greens’ Tim Hollo also achieved significant support in Canberra but will likely lose to Labor’s Alicia Payne who holds a 62 per cent two-party preferred.

Sturt remained a tight race in South Australia, the Greens’ Katie McCusker garnered 15.5 per cent of the primary vote.

Despite early signs of defeat, the Greens Brisbane party headquarters remained positive.

Senator Larissa Waters was feeling slightly confident in retaining her spot on the senate, but was hopeful the Greens would have more impact following the 2024 disaster season.

Waters said the Greens support would be strengthened after Queensland’s disaster season.

“The vibes have been really strong and supportive for us on pre poll in the last few weeks, but in particular, like we’ve had natural disasters here, we’ve had floods, we’ve had cyclones, and our MPs have been out there side-by-side with people doing the prep, doing the clean-up, filling the sandbags,” she said.

Originally published as Clive Palmer’s millions didn’t pay off, Adam Bandt clings to seat while Greens smashed, One Nation gets no seats