Government ad bill runs close to $160m

The federal government spent $157 million on campaign advertising in the past financial year, a new report shows.

Among the biggest spends on media placement were defence force recruiting ($30.1 million), promoting the marriage equality postal survey ($19 million), defence industry skills ($16 million) and the national child care plan ($11.1 million).

Television networks were the biggest beneficiaries reaping $59.1 million, followed by $55.1 million spent on digital media.

The total spend was up $57 million on the previous year.