It has been revealed that the Albanese government in Australia paid $2.7 million to the Musk X company for advertising on the platform within a year of Musk’s acquisition. After acquiring the X social media platform, the Australian government paid billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk $2.7 million for advertising in the first year. It was reported that the Albanese government temporarily suspended the advertisements for a week after they appeared alongside “inappropriate content,” but then decided to resume the ads. According to The Guardian newspaper, the Australian government spent $3 million of taxpayer money to advertise on X during the first year under Musk X, despite the backlash that led to the suspension of the ads.

ADVERTISEMENTS SUSPENDED: “DECISION MADE TO RETURN TO X” The information uncovered by The Guardian Australia team was revealed following a battle over an “information access right” within the federal treasury department, indicating that $2.7 million was spent from November 2022 to November 2023. As of October 28, 2022, Musk had completely acquired the social media platform then known as Twitter. The data also includes all government department campaign advertising expenses related to health advice and budget initiatives, including ads related to vaccines.

Reportedly, these expenditures were made despite the government’s decision to suspend advertising spending after reports emerged that ads were displayed alongside “inappropriate” content. A spokesperson from the finance department stated that the expenditures were suspended for “evaluation of brand safety measures” and later resumed. Following the investigations, the government’s media agency in charge of advertising placements determined that “adequate brand safety measures are in place” and made the decision that “advertisements can return to the platform on October 5, 2022, other than to Twitter profiles.”

“DATA WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED UNTIL 2026” In addition, it was stated that data regarding the support of X’s owner Elon Musk for US President Donald Trump in the following year will not be disclosed until January 2026. The department argued that “releasing the data now may weaken the government’s ability to negotiate with the media on advertising matters.” Some sources, however, stated to The Guardian Australia that total advertising spending during this period was similar to that of the 2022-2023 period.

Musk had previously described the Albanese government as “fascist” due to its abandoned “fake news/disinformation” bill. Musk had also engaged in a legal battle with Australia’s online safety regulator regarding content moderation on X.