Australian Labor Party Issues Urgent Call for Donations to Fund Campaign Against Opposition Leader
The Australian Labor Party has made an urgent appeal for donations to finance its escalating advertising campaign targeting new Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. Screenshots obtained by Daily Mail reveal a text message sent to Labor supporters and donors on Monday, highlighting the need for immediate financial support.
Campaign Exceeds Expectations, Creates Funding Gap
The text message stated that while the party's latest advertising effort against Taylor had 'exceeded expectations', additional funding was required to keep the campaign active online. 'We budgeted 1 week for our Angus Taylor ad. It's performing so well we're expanding it – but that creates a funding gap,' the message read. It continued, 'We want to lock in another week by TONIGHT and need a surge of grassroots support to do this.'
Supporters were directed to a fundraising page titled 'HELP KEEP OUR ANGUS TAYLOR AD LIVE', which solicits donations ranging from $10 to $1,500. This page features the same campaign video launched by Labor just minutes after the leadership spill on Friday.
Ad Content and Political Strategy
The advertisement portrays Taylor as 'just another Liberal', labeling him a leftover from the Morrison government and criticizing his record as Shadow Treasurer under Peter Dutton. It further accuses Taylor of working from his first day in Parliament to undermine Sussan Ley, the Liberal Party's first federal female leader.
According to the landing page, donations will be used directly to maintain the ad's online presence, ensuring it continues to target undecided voters 'while the Liberals are still on the back foot.' The site explains that Labor's initial budget only covered a single week of paid media, but strong engagement on Meta and other platforms has prompted an expansion of the campaign.
Unusual Timing and Strategic Implications
The website's URL references Taylor's infamous 2019 campaign gaffe, when his own social media account commented 'Fantastic. Great Move. Well done Angus' under one of his posts. While text messages from political parties requesting donations are common, such appeals are unusual outside of an election period.
Labor sources told Daily Mail that the texts demonstrate the party 'flexing its campaign muscles' following its landslide 2025 election victory. They emphasized that Labor's ability to rapidly respond to Coalition campaign promises and frame opponents early has been a key factor in its success, underscoring the strategic importance of this fundraising effort.
