Gas lobby group Australian Energy Producers was the largest single political advertiser targeting Perth Meta users over the last month (21 March to 19 April).
According to social media database WhoTargets.Me, the group spent $31,464 on Facebook and Instagram ads in Perth. Liberal candidate Jan Norberger was the second biggest spender on political ads ($25, 975) followed by WA Labor ($23, 985).
Queensland coal mining services businessman, Grant Weschel, Co-Founder & Director MPX & Ortus Mining Capital and Chairman MWG Mining & Mining Pro, has also started advertising in Western Australia.
His new Facebook page ‘Change the Government’ calls itself a not-for-profit, with ads paid for by ‘community group’ Jobs for Mining Communities which is also run by Wechsel.
Jobs for Mining Communities was reportedly set up to help oust Labor in the Queensland state election, by using social media ads and famous rugby league players such as Darren Lockyer.
Change the Government has spent around $40k on Meta so far, with approximately 77% of that in Western Australia.
It has eight Meta ads calling for a new Federal Government, which have reached over 2 million people.
Climate communications charity, Comms Declare, has been monitoring spending by fossil fuel companies.
Comms Declare founder, Belinda Noble said, ‘People in Western Australia are exposed to more ads from fossil fuel producers than anywhere else in the country. From 2022 to 2024, fossil fuel companies spent more than $10 million advertising in the state, much of it with the sole purpose of influencing political debate or slowing the uptake of renewables.’
Meanwhile big bucks are being dropped in the new electorate of Bullwinkel.
Over the past month (21 March -19 April) $1,555,929 was spent between the major parties, unions and campaigners.
Labor’s combined spending was $537,892, Liberals $361,358 and the Nationals $37,460.
State branches, WA Labor ($199,075) and WA Liberals ($195,965) were the biggest single spenders.
Across the country, more than $8 million ($8,178,905) was spent on Meta ads over the past month and nearly $4 million ($3,994,650) was spent on Google.
Voters can download the browser extension at WhoTargets.Me to see which political advertisers are targeting them.
