Labor tax critic Geoff Wilson deletes AI video and QAnon posts after source scrutiny

Fund manager and prominent critic of the Labor government’s tax policies, Geoff Wilson, has deleted an AI-generated video and a post referencing the QAnon conspiracy theory from his social media accounts. The removal follows identification of the content’s origin from rightwing nationalist accounts with histories of sharing antisemitic and Holocaust denial material.

The AI video, which Wilson reposted to campaign against the government’s capital gains tax (CGT) and negative gearing changes, depicted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers diverting funds from white Australians to migrants. The imagery included scenes of a white family becoming homeless and a south Asian family occupying their home, alongside protest signs reading “diversity is not our strength” and “treason”.

Wilson, the founder and chair of Wilson Asset Management and a relative of shadow treasurer Tim Wilson, stated he had not watched the full video or checked sources before sharing it. He deleted the posts immediately after being contacted by Guardian Australia, acknowledging that he had shared material without fully verifying its origins.

In addition to the video, Wilson reposted content relating to the QAnon conspiracy theory from an account that regularly shares such material. He described the government’s tax reforms as “economic vandalism” and an “aspiration tax”, using the post to highlight his opposition to what he termed illogical new taxes on Australian businesses.

Wilson unequivocally rejected racism, antisemitism, and conspiracy theories in his subsequent statement. He maintained that his focus remained solely on opposing the government's economic reforms, which he argued would harm investment, small business, and economic growth. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously dismissed Wilson’s criticisms, noting that the fund manager has opposed everything his government has done.