Senator spent nearly $50,000 on software to ‘manage constituents’ – The Age

Senator Rex Patrick spent nearly $50,000 on software to "manage" his constituents last year, $40,000 more than any other MP.

Computer programs, known as constituent management software, help identify and act on voter concerns but they also collect personal data to track, profile and influence people during elections.

Most politicians bill taxpayers for these services under the label of "software reimbursement", which totalled $586,311 in 2018-19.

Many Liberal MPs claimed about $2590, Warringah independent MP Zali Steggall spent $4000, most Labor politicians used about $3130, the majority of Greens senators spent less than $1500 and Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick from South Australia billed $49,739.

The Liberal Party was criticised for using a program called Feedback, provided by a Liberal-controlled entity called Parakeelia, which also donated money to the party. The Labor Party uses a similar program called Campaign Central. Both build on the electoral roll and log interactions between politicians and voters.

Read the original here:

Senator spent nearly $50,000 on software to 'manage constituents' - The Age