Palmer ads ‘very cheeky’

THE former Tasmanian Labor senator who recommended the creation of the nation’s Privacy Act has labelled Clive Palmer’s spray of unsolicited texts as “very cheeky” and “bordering on unethical conduct”.

The United Australia Party received more than 3000 complaints after sending millions of geographically targeted texts to people throughout Australia this week and last.

The unsolicited messages did not allow for people to opt out, but did not breach the Electoral Act, the Privacy Act, the Spam Act or the Do Not Call Register Act, according to the relevant agencies.

Strategic adviser Terry Aulich, who chaired the senate committee that recommended the creation of the Privacy Act, said he had received a message intended for a voter in Western Australia.

He said this clearly showed the database Mr Palmer’s party was using was incorrect.

“He falls down on — is it ethical to send unsolicited material people to people, is it ethical to have a database that is so disorganised it sends the wrong messages to the wrong people, and there’s no apology for intruding on people’s personal lives,” Mr Aulich said.

Mr Palmer this week doubled down on the texts with a pledge to send more. He claimed they had been a success because 280,000 people contacted the party after they were sent.

Mr Aulich, a senator between 1984 and 1993 and a former state Education Minister, said politicians should not think their exclusion from the Privacy Act meant they had “total freedom to flood people’s phones”.

“It’s very cheeky and probably it’s bordering on unethical conduct because it doesn’t allow you to opt out of receiv- ing these texts,” Mr Aulich said.

“Clive, in his clumsy way, has brought a lot of this to a head and people are starting to realise the value of their privacy and the fact they’re saying no and trying to protest is sending a message.”

Mr Palmer has said he will have candidates in all Lower House seats and in the Senate but is yet to announce any would-be MHRs for Tasmania.