Who paid for political ads on Facebook on 5 January 2026
272 advertisers spent $46,695 on Facebook and Instagram ads about social issues, elections or politics in Australia in Meta's daily report for 5 January 2026. The biggest spender was UNICEF Australia ($3,465). Total spend in 2026 to date: $231,028.
Spent on 5 Jan
$46,695
272 advertisers
2026 to date
$231,028
1 January – 5 January 2026
Top 3 in 2026
Spend by category
Every advertiser Meta lists as running political or issue ads, grouped by who they are.
5 January 2026
2026 to date
| Category | 5 Jan | Share | 2026 to date | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party/Candidate Parties, MPs, senators, councillors and candidates. | $4,665 | 10.0% | $24,778 | 10.7% |
| Advocacy Campaign groups, think tanks and NGOs whose ads push for a change in policy or a vote. | $14,628 | 31.3% | $78,121 | 33.8% |
| Union Trade unions and union bodies. | $994 | 2.1% | $4,824 | 2.1% |
| Business Companies, and industry and professional associations. | $3,360 | 7.2% | $12,345 | 5.3% |
| Government Government departments and agencies, councils, electoral commissions and public broadcasters. | $7,803 | 16.7% | $41,259 | 17.9% |
| Charity Charities whose ads ask for donations or promote their services. | $10,384 | 22.2% | $47,416 | 20.5% |
| Other Media outlets, law firms and others, plus ads Meta says ran without a disclaimer. | $1,988 | 4.3% | $8,099 | 3.5% |
| Small advertisers Advertisers not in the category list who have never spent more than $100 in a day (Meta reports their spend only as '≤$100'). | $2,872 | 6.2% | $14,186 | 6.1% |
| Total | $46,695 | 100% | $231,028 | 100% |
Advertisers on 5 January 2026
Filter by category or search by name. Click a name to see that advertiser's spending this year. "≤$100" means Meta only reported that the spend was $100 or less.
Top 50 advertisers in 2026
Spend from 1 January to 5 January 2026.
About these figures
- Source: Meta Ad Library daily report for Australia, dated 5 January 2026. Meta publishes each day's report a few days later.
- Year-to-date figures cover 1 January to 5 January 2026. From 5 daily reports.
- Meta reports daily spend under $100 only as "≤$100"; we count each such line as $34.60, a value worked out from Meta's exact 90-day report.
- Categories are assigned by Political Gadgets and reviewed by hand. New advertisers show as Unclassified until they're reviewed.
Source: Meta Ad Library report (ads about social issues, elections or politics, Australia), with categories added by Political Gadgets. Offered 'as is' under CC BY-NC 4.0.