Senator Penny Wong joins Facebook — at last — and gets 19,000 fans within 24 hours

WHICH Australian MP posted for the first time yesterday — and attracted almost 20,000 ‘likes’ within 24 hours — and which notable MP is yet to get on board?

Facebook Like Button

FACEBOOK’S utility as a platform for politicians of all stripes has been well-documented ... but it seems some Australian MPs are late to the party.

South Australian Senator Penny Wong joined Facebook on August 3 but did not make a post until Tuesday afternoon.

Within 24 hours, she had gained almost 20,000 likes, putting her in the echelons of the most liked politicians on the social media platform.

Senator Wong is already a prolific Tweeter, with 78,000 followers, and seemed sheepish about her late embrace of Facebook in a Tweet she posted last night.

I have to confess that my Facebook arrival came after much cajoling and arm twisting by others. Be kind people! Please. Just to start off.

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) August 26, 2014

While her number of likes is an impressive feat within such a short space of time she’s still got some catching up to do.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has amassed 296,347 likes, surpassing his Prime Ministerial predecessors Kevin Rudd who has 140,605 and Julia Gillard who has 224,462.

By comparison, Scott Morrison, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection dwindles in the popularity stakes with only 4,238 likes.

Senator Wong can console herself with the fact that she’s already received more likes than other politicians who embraced Facebook earlier, such as Clive Palmer who joined earlier this year and only has 5,223 likes.

She’s also not the only one to drag her feet when it comes to joining Facebook with treasurer Joe Hockey still yet to get an official Facebook page.

Still number one ...Prime Minister Tony Abbott has more ‘likes’ on Facebook than any other Australian politician.

Our most ‘liked’ politicians on Facebook

Tony Abbott — 296,347

Julia Gillard — 224,462

Kevin Rudd — 140,605

Tanya Plibersek — 73,993

Adam Bandt — 66,782

Bill Shorten — 63,606

Malcolm Turnbull - 61,634

Julie Bishop — 36,047

Christopher Pyne — 19,348

Chris Bowen — 18,275

Clive Palmer — 5,223

Scott Morrison — 4,238

Joe Hockey — No Facebook page