$8m an hour: in the battle for marginal seats, it’s a contest of who can splurge the most

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have both targeted electorates held by the other in hopes of winning marginal seats in this year’s Australian election. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AP

The Morrison government has promised to spend almost $8m every hour since the election campaign began, pledging more than $7.5bn for projects across the country in its bid to remain in power.

Labor, for its part, has pledged about $5bn over the past six weeks, or about $5m an hour, with both major parties overwhelmingly focused on marginal seat contests that will determine the election outcome.