Local ire at Clive’s pollie push on line
TOWNSVILLE residents have had mixed reactions to receiving unsolicited text messages from Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.
Messages were sent to an unknown number of locals this week.
They read: “Make Townsville great. Pay 20 per cent less tax in the regions with our zonal taxation policy.
“Vote 1 United Australia Party, Clive Palmer.”
On social media, people questioned how the party obtained their personal details.
Mark Reasons said: “Don’t remember giving Clive my number!”
Other people were angered at what they perceived to be a breach of their privacy.
A UAP spokesman said the party had received “positive feedback” about the digital ap- proach to campaigning.
“Most people want change from the duopoly of either Liberal or Labor governments,” he said.
The spokesman said the texts were fully compliant under legislation, but declined to reveal how they sourced the mobile numbers.
An Australian Electoral Commission spokesman said while the text messages were within the legal framework, the AEC did not provide details to political parties.
“In relation to text messages or telephone calls, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has previously advised that the SPAM Act and the Do Not Call Register Act do not apply to the conduct of a registered political party (such as the United Australia Party).
“The Australian Electoral Commission, which operates under the Electoral Act, has no power to restrict the amount of electoral advertising that candidates and political parties may choose to communicate to electors.”
James Cook University Senior Lecturer in Political Science Dr Maxine Newlands said text messages were a new form of political campaigning as societies became more entrenched in the digital age.