Tim Wilson and the Coalition are leaving nothing to chance in their bid to reclaim the well-heeled Melbourne seat of Goldstein – least of all their YouTube ad spend.

According to campaign tracking data by adtech firm Adgile, the Coalition has spent more than $86,000 on YouTube ads targeted at users in the electorate since the official start of the campaign – an amount that dwarfs the $5000 spent on behalf of teal incumbent independent Zoe Daniel. The 17-to-1 ratio underscores the party’s high-stakes strategy to recover a seat it once held comfortably.