Climate 200 founder Simon Holmes a Court has hit out at the “false” story in the Australian Financial Review which claimed he asked teal MPs to get him off the publication’s list of Australia’s most covertly powerful people.
Mr Holmes a Court featured as number seven, behind Lachlan Murdoch, in the AFR’s list for the success of his Climate 200 initiative which collected $13 million for community backed teal candidates at the 2022 federal election.
On Wednesday, the high-profile donor called out the AFR’s political editor Phillip Coorey for writing a “cute hook” for the story claiming teal independent Allegra Spender walked into the paper’s Canberra bureau to ask for his name to be struck off the list.
It was also claimed a staffer for teal independent Zoe Daniel, as well as a spokeswoman for Climate 200, had called up the Review with the same request.
The hook for the follow up story about the “forces that shaped 2024’s list of Australia’s most powerful people” said that “someone wasn’t happy” to be on the list, hinting at Mr Holmes a Court.
Mr Holmes a Court was asked during his keynote address at the National Press Club in Canberra whether Ms Daniel and Ms Spender, or anyone working for them, had tried to get him off the AFR’s power list.
“I can say categorically, I have never asked any MP to ask a question of anything from anyone,” he said.
Mr Holmes a Court said the AFR had written a “cute hook” for the story, but it was “false”.
“The story is false, the journalist who was approached, and the journalist was approached by a few individuals, has confirmed that they know that the story is wrong,” he said.
“The journalist who wrote the article knows – has been told the story is wrong. The editor has been advised that the story is wrong.”
Mr Holmes a Court turned his rebuke on former Liberal MP Jason Falinski who requested Ms Daniel be investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission following the reports she tried to have the Climate 200 founder redacted from the AFR’s power list.
“What is pathetic about this whole episode is Jason Falinski, who now represents the shady group, the coal-funded group, Australians for Prosperity, filed a NACC complaint,” he said.
“If you read between the lines on the response from the NACC, a strong rebuke that we shouldn’t politicise the national integrity organisation.”
Mr Holmes a Court was asked whether he had sought a retraction over the “totally wrong” story.
“An incredible amount of rubbish is written about me on a daily basis. I reckon I seek retractions about a third of the time. I have sought a retraction from the AFR on that,” he said.
“It is yet to be forthcoming.”
A top pollster for RedBridge, Kos Samaras, who was among the AFR’s panellists who curated the list, said Mr Holmes a Court had put both major parties in a “headlock” as he pursues teal candidates to run against the Liberals and to be dealt with by Labor once elected.
In the leadup to the next federal election, Mr Samaras said Mr Holmes a Court could “make or break governments” and that his actions “will end careers”.
Australia’s political landscape has seen a surge in the influence of donor-funded independent campaigns, with Climate 200 supporting 23 candidates at the last federal election, 11 of whom were elected.
Mr Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 initiative has faced scrutiny for its significant financial contributions to independent candidates.
At the last election, Climate 200 provided $740,000 to Ms Spender’s campaign, accounting for more than 40 per cent of her total donations.
