The Liberal and National parties spent twice as much as Labor on last year's NSW election in the Hunter but made little impact on the region's "dead red" seats.
Spending disclosures on the NSW Electoral Commission website show the Liberals forked out $120,000 on Jaimie Abbott's campaign to unseat Labor MP Kate Washington in Port Stephens.
Ms Washington spent $40,000, including $23,000 on advertising and $6000 on election materials, but retained the seat with a swing in her favour of 1 per cent.
Ms Abbott spent $83,000 on producing and distributing election material and $38,000 on advertising,
Liberal pre-polling had shown Port Stephens, which Ms Washington held with a 4.7 per cent margin, was ready to swing back to the conservatives, but a Facebook trolling scandal marred Ms Abbott's campaign.
A Liberal insider said the party knew targeting the energetic Ms Washington was "never going to be easy" and the Hunter's "dead red seats" were a "tough" challenge.
The Liberals also spent $120,000 on Brian Perrem's campaign in the marginal Central Coast seat of The Entrance, but Labor incumbent David Mehan extended his margin by 4.8 per cent.
The Coalition outspent Labor in Hunter seats where they appeared to have little hope of victory, racking up a total bill of $493,000 to Labor's $225,000. In some cases, party headquarters muzzled young candidates for fear they would speak out of turn.
The Nationals spent $60,000 on young first-time candidate Josh Angus in Cessnock, where Clayton Barr ($16,000) was returned with a 19.3 per cent margin.
Liberal city councillor Sally Halliday spent $40,000 in Maitland, twice as much as Labor's Jenny Aitchison, who held her 13 per cent margin.
The Liberals spent $31,000 on Jennifer Barrie's effort in Charlestown, $19,000 more than MP Jodie Harrison, and $30,000 on Lindsay Paterson's tilt against independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper ($29,000) and Labor's Joanne Smith ($18,000).
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery ($12,000) enjoyed a 4.6 per cent swing and a massive 25.4 per cent margin after campaigning against another Liberal newcomer, Nick Trappett, who spent $27,000.
Yasmin Catley, the deputy leader of the Opposition, spent $11,000 defending her patch against Dean Bowman ($31,000). Her 12.8 per cent margin slipped to 10.4 per cent.
Tim Crakanthorp was the only Labor incumbent to outspend his Coalition rival, $53,000 against first-timer Blake Keating's $33,000, and secured a 10.3 per cent swing in Newcastle.
The Coalition's only sitting MP in the region, Upper Hunter Nationals representative Michael Johnsen, spent $121,000 on his campaign and retained the marginal seat with a slightly increased margin.
Labor spent $28,000 on Melanie Dagg's campaign in Upper Hunter after Martin Rush ($16,000) withdrew three months before the vote after an anonymous letter accused him of assaulting a woman, an allegation he denies.
2019 NSW election funding in the Hunter
Port Stephens
Kate Washington (Labor) $40,000
Jaimie Abbott (Lib) $120,000
Labor retain +1% swing
Newcastle
Tim Crakanthorp (Labor) $53,000
Blake Keating (Lib) $33,000
Labor retain +10.3% swing
Maitland
Jenny Aitchison (Labor) $19,000
Sally Halliday (Lib) $40,000
Labor retain -0.4% swing
Charlestown
Jodie Harrison (Labor) $12,000
Jennifer Barrie (Lib) $31,000
Labor retain -0.5% swing
Lake Macquarie
Greg Piper (Ind) $29,000
Joanne Smith (Labor) $18,000
Lindsay Paterson (Lib) $30,000
Ind retain +11.4% swing
Wallsend
Sonia Hornery (Labor) $12,000
Nick Trappett (Lib) $27,000
Labor retain +4.6% swing
Swansea
Yasmin Catley (Labor) $11,000
Dean Bowman (Lib) $31,000
Labor retain -2.4% swing
Cessnock
Clayton Barr (Labor) $16,000
Josh Angus (Nationals) $60,000
Labor retain -2.7% swing
Upper Hunter
Michael Johnsen (Nat) $121,000
Martin Rush (Labor) $16,000
Melanie Dagg (Labor) $28,000
Nats retain +0.4% swing
Source: NSW Electoral Commission.
Note: Figures rounded to nearest thousand.
