Clive Palmer has denied claims that Steve Bannon directed his advertising during the 2019 federal election. The mining magnate and United Australia Party chairman also responded to leaked text messages found in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Palmer stated that he never spoke with Epstein and only had one short, late-night phone call with Bannon. He suggested that Bannon was simply trying to boost his own reputation by taking credit for the campaign.

The messages were part of a set of documents released by the US Department of Justice. In a text sent two days after the 2019 election, Bannon reportedly wrote, "I had Clive Palmer do the $60 million anti-China and climate change ads."

In addition to addressing these claims, Palmer announced he will launch a High Court challenge within 90 days against the Labor government’s 2025 reforms on political donations. Don Farrell, the Special Minister of State, said the government intends to defend the new laws.