Independent MP Monique Ryan has expressed no strong opinion on the practice of politicians paying influencers for promotional content, despite her fellow “teal” MP, Allegra Spender, confirming that she had paid influencers for posts. Spender, who represents Wentworth, recently collaborated with mental health advocate Milly Rose Bannister for paid social media content, including a video where Bannister shadowed Spender in Parliament. The debate centers on whether such posts should be clearly labeled as sponsored by politicians.
Influencer Content in Australian Politics
Allegra Spender, the representative for Wentworth in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, has come under scrutiny for paying influencers to promote her political message. Spender confirmed this week that she worked with Milly Rose Bannister, a content creator and mental health advocate, to create posts about her campaign. The posts included a video where Bannister followed Spender for a day in Parliament, with a clear disclosure indicating the collaboration was “made in collaboration” with both Spender and Climate200, a political movement backing climate action.
This arrangement sparked conversation about the use of social media influencers in political campaigns. Although there are no specific electoral laws in Australia that prevent politicians from paying influencers for content, questions have arisen regarding whether such paid posts should be clearly labeled for voters’ awareness.
No Clear Stance from Monique Ryan
On the popular ABC program Insiders, Monique Ryan was asked about the practice of paying influencers to promote political content. Ryan, who represents the Melbourne seat of Kooyong, clarified that she had never engaged with influencers in this manner. However, when questioned about whether she thought paid influencer posts should be explicitly marked, Ryan refrained from offering an opinion.
“I haven’t really thought much about it,” Ryan said during the interview. “Politicians pay to generate the content that we distribute to voters. I’m not sure there’s an issue there.” While Ryan admitted that social media is a crucial tool for connecting with younger voters, she added, “I don’t have an opinion on whether paid influencer content should be disclosed, but I’ll think about it.”
Her response highlighted the growing role of social media in modern politics, especially as political campaigns increasingly rely on influencers to extend their reach to younger, more digitally-engaged voters.
Legal Perspective on Paid Influencer Content
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has confirmed that there are no laws preventing politicians from funding third-party content creators. In a statement to ABC, an AEC spokesperson noted that authorisation statements are required to inform voters of who is behind a message, but they do not extend to regulating paid content collaborations between politicians and influencers.
“There are no laws that prevent people from being funded to put out messages or communicate on behalf of a political entity,” the AEC spokesperson said. “It’s simply a question of whether the specific statement meets the requirements of the AEC.”
Political Influence of Social Media Personalities
The rise of social media influencers as political players is a trend being closely watched ahead of the 2025 federal election. Politicians are increasingly seeking to connect with voters through online platforms, recognizing the growing power of social media figures to sway public opinion, particularly among younger demographics.
While Ryan did not take a strong position on the ethical or transparency issues surrounding paid posts, she acknowledged that media diversity and the evolving role of influencers in political campaigns merit further examination. “I think that’s potentially been happening for a long time,” Ryan said when discussing whether paying for content without voter awareness has been a common practice in Australian politics.
AUKUS and Australia’s Defence Strategy
In addition to discussing social media influence, Monique Ryan also addressed her concerns about Australia’s defense strategy. The Kooyong MP has raised alarms about the AUKUS deal, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the US, which involves the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. With an estimated cost of $368 billion, the AUKUS project is expected to deliver eight submarines by the 2050s, a move Ryan has questioned due to the uncertainty surrounding the project’s long-term benefits.
Voters in her electorate have expressed concerns that the submarine deal might end up wasting significant resources without delivering the anticipated strategic advantages. “People are asking, reasonably, what are the other options and what else should we be thinking about?” Ryan said.
