The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to tighten rules around government advertising through the Public Administration Amendment (Public Sector Communication Standards) Bill 2016.
The Bill bans taxpayer funded political advertising, enshrines in law strengthened governance arrangements and sets new limitations for when television advertising can be used.
The Bill will be supported by new regulations, which set out allowable uses of taxpayer funded advertising – including a requirement that unfunded projects cannot be promoted in paid advertising.
The Auditor-General will have clearer standards for assessing lawful expenditure on advertising.
The Labor Government is working to reduce expenditure on advertising and ensure that all advertising is effective and good value. This includes a greater focus on modern, digital communications channels.
The most recent 2014-15 Government Advertising Report highlighted a reduction in advertising expenditure to $94.9m from a previous average of more than $100m.
The cumulative saving from the start of our term of office to the end of the last financial year was approximately $15 million.
The Labor Government has also lowered the previous central oversight cost threshold for advertising from $150,000 to $100,000, boosting transparency and accountability for government funded advertising campaigns.
Quotes attributable to the Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings
"The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on our election commitment to tighten rules around government advertising and reduce the cost to taxpayers."
"Unlike the Liberals, we won't waste public money on political advertising for shonky or imaginary projects."
Reviewed 19 August 2020