Just ask Paterson MP Meryl Swanson, who has outspent Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten in the first quarter of 2018 when it comes to advertising and promotion. 

Ms Swanson claimed $57,602.51 for office administration costs from January 1 to March 31, according to the latest figures released by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.

It’s more than Liberal party leader Mr Turnbull ($46,863.60) and Labor counterpart Mr Shorten ($43,854.08) in the same time.

Ms Swanson claimed a similar figure in the three-month period before that, tapping into the taxpayer-funded printing and communication budget to the tune of $60,686.89 from October to December. 

In comparison, Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon spent $40,196.51 from January to March on office administration costs. Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon claimed just $18,209.20.

Among the big money items on Ms Swanson’s list were $28,578.25 spent on the production and distribution of 70,485 Christmas news letters. Much of the remainder was spent on newspaper advertisements.

The first-term MP said the region’s low rates of digital literacy meant letterbox drops and advertisements in traditional media were still a preferred method of communication. 

“As a new member I feel it is very important that my electorate gets to know me and my team and what we can do to assist them,” she said. 

“Most of the expenditure has been spent on letters, advertisements and newsletters. These share information with people in the electorate, let them know what their Federal Member’s office can do to assist, and invite them to meet with me.

“Issues with internet access and low digital literacy in parts of Paterson mean that old-fashioned snail mail and community newspaper advertisements are still an effective way to communicate. I certainly don’t want any part of my electorate to miss out.”

Towards the upper-end of the office administration claims are Labor MP Justine Keay ($76,050.71), who splashed out on promotional material ahead of a by-election challenge, while Pennant Hills MP Julian Leeser topped the list of NSW politicians with a whopping $97,661.17 claimed.