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Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer has launched a political party directly inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The billionaire unveiled his plans for the Trumpet of Patriots party on Wednesday, just months out from the country’s federal election.
“Trumpet of Patriots will put Australians first and make Australia great again,” he told reporters at Parliament House in Canberra.
Palmer said he plans to “drain the swamp” in the country’s capital, a reference to Trump’s plans to drastically cut the size of government.
“We think Donald Trump’s been very effective in reducing public expenditure,” Palmer said.
He was also critical of mass immigration and said the party would only recognise two genders, male and female, reflecting positions also favoured by the U.S. President.
The party plans to stand candidates in all 150 seats in Australia’s lower house, as well as the upper chamber, known as the Senate.
When asked if he would be running at the election, Palmer said he was “too old” and will instead serve as the party’s chairman.
Palmer, Australia’s 18th richest person with a net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Forbes, previously led the right-wing United Australia Party (UAP), sitting as a lawmaker in the lower house for three years from 2013.
Palmer spent around A$100 million (£50.4 million) on campaigning for the UAP in the last federal election, yielding a single Senator in the upper house.
The announcement comes after he failed to register UAP in time for this year’s election, that must be held by May.
Prime Minster Anthony Albanese is yet to announce the date of the poll, that could be as early as March after the country’s central bank cut interest rates on Tuesday, a boost for the government that has seen its popularity fall due to cost of living pressures.
