According to expenditure returns published yesterday, the ACT branch of the Labor Party almost doubled its advertising expenditure from the 2004 election, spending close to $1.4million in the five weeks leading up to the election, compared with $707,772 in its previous campaign.

This was well over what the other parties and Independents spent on their advertising campaigns combined.

The figures include spending on ads in broadcast and print media, mail-outs, placards, how-to-vote leaflets, consultant fees, polling, and research. No party recorded any cinema advertising.

The Canberra Liberals spent $727,767 on their campaign, compared with $489,843 at the previous election.

The ACT Greens spent $63,280, the Australian Motorist Party $75,232, Community Alliance Party less than $17,000, and the Richard Mulcahy Canberra Party spent $56,456.

Of the $1.4million Labor spent between September 12 and October 18, $916,000 was on television and radio ads, more than trebling the $289,000 spent on those media at the previous election.

The Federal Labor Government is looking at reforming the electoral funding system, amid criticism from anti-gambling lobby groups over the millions in donations the party receives annually from poker machine venues.

ACT Labor Party branch secretary Bill Redpath said yesterday the increased broadcast expenditure at last year's election was part of the campaign strategy, although he favoured a more level playing field.

''I think we're looking at a level playing field more generally. It would certainly save us a lot of money if they had, as they do in some countries, allocated spots on television and radio, that was paid for by the taxpayer, but I don't think the taxpayer would be too keen on that,'' Mr Redpath said.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times