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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Daniella White

Who spent what during last year's ACT election campaign?

The Canberra Liberals forked out more than double the cash Labor did on election advertising in the lead-up to the 2020 election.

The party spent slightly more than Labor across all its election costs, racking up a bill of $1,066,876.

Labor spent $1,052,682 across the campaign, with the biggest chunk of money going towards consultants.

The Canberra Liberals suffered a bruising defeat at October's election, losing two seats in the process.

Labor also lost two seats to The Greens but retained power in minority government.

The latest figures from Elections ACT show Labor spent more than half a million on external consultancy fees, while the liberals paid just $85,000 for external services.

The Liberals spent $153,000 on TV, radio and magazine advertising, while Labor spent $71,000.

It marked a shift away from broadcast advertising spending for both parties, an almost 70 per cent drop from Labor and 68 per cent drop by the Liberals compared to the 2016 election.

The funding disclosures do not break down money spent on advertising across social media or Google.

However Facebook data shows Labor and its candidates spent $54,463 during the campaign, while the Liberals spent $88,408.

The Greens spent $14,208 on the social media giant, Facebook data shows.

Labor aligned unions spent $103,362 during the election campaign, including $13,000 on polling by Unions ACT.

The Greens, who won six seats and 13 per cent of the vote, spent $114,000 on all its election costs.

The Liberals significantly increased their spending in the category of "matter not required to be authorised", forking out $312,211 in the category compared to $161,311 for the 2016 election.

This category includes money spent on direct mailing (including printing and postage), business cards, T-shirts, balloons.

Independent Li Fuxin was the highest spending non-party aligned candidate, his total expenditure coming in at $27,953.

Of the minor parties, Belco Party racked up the biggest election spending bill at $56,798, followed by the Canberra Progressives at $36,387.

Parties fielding the maximum 25 candidates had to abide by a spending cap of $1,068,750.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr delivers his ACT election victory speech in Canberra.
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