Federal and state governments are spending a staggering sum on advertising campaigns, with some flouting weak rules in the lead up to elections, a new Grattan Institute report reveals.

Governments are spending almost $450 million per year on advertising, more than McDonald’s or Woolworths.

Senior associate at the Grattan Institute, Anika Stobert, says governments are skirting advertising rules.

“We have advertising where the government is spruiking its performance or its policies and there’s minimal, or no real call to action for the public to do anything specific … which is really what would bring a purpose to the ad,” Ms Stobert told Ross and Russel.

“What we’re pointing out in our report here is there are a proportion of campaigns that spruik the performance of governments, particularly in the lead up to elections, and some of them even have party colour schemes or slogans which really try and create this impression to the public that the party is doing a great job.”

Press PLAY below to hear what the Grattan Institute report found