Rex Patrick spends $14,200 in 30 days on Facebook, Instagram ads

Senator Rex Patrick is spending more on Facebook and Instagram ads than any other federal SA candidate – but there’s a reason.

Independent senator Rex Patrick is spending big on social media advertisements in attempts to hold on to his spot in parliament, splashing $14,200 on Facebook and Instagram ads over the past 30 days.

He has outspent every other individual federal candidate in South Australia, with the next highest spender, Labor’s Boothby candidate Louise Miller-Frost, investing $7510 on social media ads in the same period.

Senator Patrick said he has decided against using environmentally damaging corflutes during the federal election campaign.

“I am running an environmentally clean digital campaign, together with getting out and about on the hustings, that focuses on engaging constituents,” Senator Patrick said.

The South Australian senator’s chances of getting back into parliament were hurt upon the announcement of his former ally Nick Xenophon’s return to politics.

“I have a big challenge ahead of me and don’t have the collective spending abilities of the major parties, or the media attention their leaders get on a daily basis,” Senator Patrick said.

“I have grassroots donors and I have to spend their donations wisely.”

His Facebook and Instagram ads deployed this week promote his decision to scrap corflutes.

One of his advertisements attacks the Greens for using corflutes during the campaign, while another ad tells social media users the major parties are controlled by the eastern states.

“Don’t waste your vote on blue or red, vote for our Rex instead,” the video says.

The United Australia Party has spent $260,992 on social media ads across the county in the past month, including $19,599 directed at SA audiences.

A screenshot showing part of one of Senator Rex Patrick’s ads.

Labor Boothby candidate Louise Miller-Frost has outspent her Liberal opponent Rachel Swift.

The Liberals are lagging far behind Labor in the Facebook ad war in the most marginal SA seat of Boothby, where candidate Rachel Swift has spent only $2450.

Independent Boothby candidate Jo Dyer has spent nearly $3000.

These numbers are vastly lower than other battleground electorates across the country, such as Kooyong in Melbourne, where Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, since March 29, has spent about $60,000 on ads in attempts to fend off Climate 200-backed independent Monique Ryan, who has spent $20,247.

Climate 200-backed independent Kylea Tink is massively outspending Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman in the fight for his North Sydney seat, spending $20,730 in ads. Mr Zimmerman has spent just $735.

[e-mail]