And right now, Australia is standing at the precipice of an immediate need for change in the way we regulate political campaign funding.

Fundamental flaws in the accountability of political donations, lobbying regulations and the unlimited threshold for political advertising in Australia have created loopholes that are being exploited, and we are seeing this play out in the mainstream and digital advertising landscape.

Some, like Clive Palmer who has the financial means, are doing just that.

Each year we have seen the advertising spend on creating a "political voice" growing and this year it has moved into hyperdrive.

Clive Palmer's United Australia party spent around $80 million dollars on the 2019 election, campaigning mainly against the ALP, and has promised this year to attack both major parties and the Greens with the most expensive political campaign in Australia's history.

One report suggests since August last year that he has already spent $31 million on United Australia Party political advertising.

At the same time, politicians from all sides of politics continue to receive tens of millions of dollars in political donations, with up to 40 per cent coming from anonymous sources.

Under federal rules, political donors can remain anonymous, if their contribution is under $14,500.

With the amount of money in the billions of dollars, and combined with an unlimited cap on political advertising, this means those with the largest bankrolls can control the political narrative and messaging, which can be dangerous.

Australia must ensure we do not follow the example of the United States where for many years politicians have accepted incredulous amounts of money from those with deep pockets and agendas, in return for political favours.

While Australia's political system is not as prone to such unbridled influence like the United States, we should see this as a cautionary tale, and do something now to strengthen legislation by creating caps on political advertising spends and making all donations declarable before we slide down the slippery slope of private patronage of politicians.

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Clive Palmer is buying his political collateral and in turn, political influence.

This has far-reaching consequences for Australians, as it opens the door for others to do the same.

Political campaigns should be balanced, fair, based on policy discussion and not skewed by the ability to keep as many ads on air, for as long as possible.

Let campaigns be built on the policy of the party and not propaganda-style, popularist rhetoric.

Palmer's strategy sets an unnerving precedent that could be emulated by other wealthy individuals or corporations to create a political platform to drive agendas which can work to further erode the strength of government and democracy and all it stands for, our collective voice.

When politicians and votes are bought, so is policy.