How much Central and North Queensland politicians spend on Facebook ads

With an election looming, politicians across Central and North Queensland are spending up big on Facebook ads, with one pollie leading the field after clocking up a massive $84,000 bill. See how much each MP has spent so far.

Politicians across Central and North Queensland are spending big bucks on Facebook influence, with both federal and state MPs injecting thousands of dollars to spread advertisements across the social media giant.

The figures, listed in Facebook’s Ad Library, are taken from August 2020 to January 2022.

Here’s how much your representatives and candidates have spent so far to gain your attention.

George Christensen – $84,964

Controversial Dawson MP George Christensen leads the pack with a mammoth $84,964 outlay.

Mr Christensen opposes vaccine mandates and some of his ads reflect this sentiment.

One ad, which ran from November to January 16, reads: “Demand an end to all coercive measures by government and private corporations that force people to take a Covid-19 vaccine or else be denied services, rights or employment. End the vaccine discrimination!”

Mr Christensen has also run ads targeting the ‘global elite’ and ‘The Great Reset,’ with one ad from October 2021 proclaiming: “Globalist elites are using the pandemic as an opportunity to fuse socialism and corporatism and embed it permanently into our economy and society.

“In other words, an unelected global elite operating outside the law deciding for ordinary citizens how they will live, work, communicate and do business in the future. They’re calling it ‘The Great Reset’,” it read.

Andrew Willcox – $1000

Dawson LNP candidate Andrew Willcox with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce at the Pioneer River. Picture: Contributed

Nationals Dawson candidate Andrew Willcox is more modest in his spending compared to Mr Christensen.

Mr Willcox has spent just $1000 on Facebook ads to date. The Liberal National Party paid for Mr Willcox’s advertisements.

Shane Hamilton – $5799

Dawson Labor candidate Shane Hamilton. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Labor’s Dawson candidate Shane Hamilton is outspending Mr Willcox five-to-one at this juncture.

The United Workers Union is also backing the mining maintenance manager, spending $850 to disseminate pro-Hamilton ads.

One union-bought ad emphasises the issue of casualisation in Queensland’s mining sector, one of the key planks of Labor’s campaign to win back mining seats from the LNP.

Michelle Landry – $34,033

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry is in second place with a substantial $34,033 spend.

Ms Landry’s advertisements focus on her good works across the electorate of Capricornia.

She is also heavily outspending her Labor rival Russell Robertson.

Russell Robertson – $7835

ALP candidate for Capricornia, and coal miner Russell Robertson. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Coal miner Russell Robertson is gunning for Ms Landry’s job and has spent almost $8000 to transmit his campaign themes across on Facebook.

In an ad from mid-January, Mr Robertson proclaims his support for Australian manufacturing.

Dale Last – $22,268

LNP Member for Burdekin Dale Last during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

State MPs have also spent heavily on Facebook influence and Burdekin MP Dale Last leads the pack with more than $22,268.

Julieanne Gilbert – $16,847

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert comes in second place among the state MPs.

Amanda Camm – $9591

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Whitsundays MP Amanda Camm has spent almost $10,000 on Facebook influence.

The Liberal National Party funded most of Ms Camm’s advertisements, putting in $9391.

Stephen Andrew – $976

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew. Picture: Heidi Petith

The One Nation member spent the least amount of money compared to his fellow politicians, putting in less than $1000.