Whoever believes people aren't interested in politics was not spending much time on Twitter this year.

The #auspol hashtag was the top Twitter trend in Australia in 2014 and the only Australian trend to make it into the global top 30 trends, a year-end analysis of who talked about what and how often on the social media platform shows.

What dominated discussion

The budget was the most talked about issue, with five separate budget-related stories making it into the top 10 days of discussion of politics, according to a data analysis by Twitter.

Twitter reinforces the old adage that a picture paints a thousand words, with the image of Treasurer Joe Hockey smoking a cigar shortly before the release of the budget at the top of the list.

Reaction to the budget, subsequent anti-budget rallies, the GP co payment and ABC funding cuts were the other budget-related items that caught the attention of the Twittersphere.

The repeal of the carbon tax, which the Coalition government has highlighted as one of its major achievements this year, was the third most talked about item.

The top 10 days of #auspol in 2014

1) Joe Hockey's cigar picture, May 12

2) Reaction to the federal budget, May 14

3) Carbon tax repeal, July 16

4) #bustthebudget rallies, May 17

5) Doctors launch campaign against the GP co-payment, May 20

6) Federal budget coverage, May 13

7) Newspoll and Nielsen polls release, May 18

8) Student protest disrupts Q&A, May 19

9) Revelations of alleged suicide attempts on Christmas Island, July 9

10) ABC budget cuts announced, November 23

What really took off 

Despite the budget's dominance of Twitter debate, it was not the most popular #auspol tweet.

That claim to fame goes to a meme by Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek on January 29 asking followers to retweet their support for the ABC. Some 5,600 of them did just that.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer's budget night declaration of a "heartless and cruel" budget was the second most retweeted tweet with 1,200 people apparently agreeing.

Most retweeted #auspol tweets in 2014:

The #ABC should not be attacked by the Abbott Government for subjecting them to scrutiny. RT if you agree. #auspol pic.twitter.com/5yBI6wU5tE — Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) January 29, 2014

This is a heartless and cruel budget that will cause many Australians undue pain & all based on a fairy tale about a debt crisis #auspol — Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) May 13, 2014

What does an Abbott Budget cost Australians? RT if you think it's unfair #auspol #Budget2014 #budgetofbrokenpromises pic.twitter.com/hVvA98BC1f — Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) May 14, 2014

Transparency in Timor Leste http://t.co/2ZMkdVkWMJ #auspol #timorleste #easttimor — Ted McDonnell (@edward2959) December 7, 2014

About as good a display of the Telegraph's hypocrisy as I've ever seen! Please RT 2 show how 2faced they are! #AusPol pic.twitter.com/LNq9LjYAV4 — Kiera (@KieraGorden) May 19, 2014

How the leaders stacked up

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's most retweeted tweet was his July 16 contribution that the carbon price had been repealed. It was shared 271 times.

The Coalition promised to abolish the Carbon Tax & today the Govt has delivered our promise. http://t.co/BmKEmU6oxB pic.twitter.com/oUlPGT39Ey — Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) July 17, 2014

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten gleaned 1,044 retweets with his plea to followers to share his May 12 statement that the Coalition's budget was one of "broken promises", the essence of Labor's message this past year.

RT to remind Tony Abbott of his own words when it comes to breaking election promises #budgetofbrokenpromises pic.twitter.com/8SuNiyP3KL — Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 12, 2014

Mr Abbott's followers grew by 40 per cent in 2014 while Mr Shorten's followers grew by 90 per cent.

Politicians and their followers:

Tony Abbott: 389,000 - follow him here

Joe Hockey: 138,000 - follow him here

Warren Truss: 3,978 - follow him here

Bill Shorten: 82,100 - follow him here

Tanya Plibersek: 71,400 - follow her here

Penny Wong: 94,900 - follow her here

Christine Milne: 57,600 - follow her here

Clive Palmer: 54,900 - follow him here

Kevin Rudd: 1,450,000 - follow him here

Julia Gillard: 528,000 - follow her here

How #auspol compared to other events

Lest Australian MPs get too excited about their social media savvy, the most retweeted tweet of the year was Ellen DeGeneres' celebrity crammed selfie taken while she hosted the Oscars in March. It was retweeted 3.3 million times.

If only Bradley's arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014

The most retweeted Australian tweet was by singer Lorde, whose comment about a digitally enhanced photo of herself was shared 73,779 times.

i find this curious - two photos from today, one edited so my skin is perfect and one real. remember flaws are ok :-) pic.twitter.com/PuRhxt2u2O — Lorde (@lordemusic) March 31, 2014

Five of the top 10 most discussed events in Australia were about sport but Remembrance Day topped the list and reaction to the federal budget came in at number two.

Australia's top 10 most tweeted about moments in 2014:

1) Remembrance Day, November 11

2) Budget reaction, PM cancels university visit, May 20

3) AFL player Jack Viney appeal, May 8

4) Aussie band 5SOS win at MTV awards, November 10

5) World Cup conversation, June 16

6) 5SOS sweep the MVAs, August 25

7) Collingwood's Nathan Brown dislocates shoulder, May 24

8) Student protest on Q&A, May 5

9) 2014 Melbourne Cup, November 4

10) Australia v South African one-day international, November 9