James Stevens MP Media Release: Labor’s $170 million taxpayer-funded advertising blitz

Labor’s $170 million taxpayer-funded advertising blitz

06 June 2024

In a prime example of Labor wasting money on the wrong priorities, Anthony Albanese’s Government will spend up to $172 million dollars on advertising its own policies.

The Federal Budget and Senate Estimates have revealed an exorbitant amount of taxpayers’dollars that the government has earmarked for “communications campaigns” to spruik various policies.

Despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ claim that the Budget includes only “unavoidable spending,” Labor have shown a complete disregard for the taxpayer by embarking on a multi-million-dollar advertising blitz.

The Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Waste Reduction, James Stevens, said “this is another shameful waste of taxpayers’ money by the Albanese Government.

“When Australian families are struggling to pay their household bills, the Government is on a multimillion-dollar self-promoting spending spree.”

Some of the most egregious allocations of funds for advertising in this year’s Budget include:

  • $45 million to promote Future Made in Australia
  • $10 million to promote vehicle efficiency standards
  • $10 million to promote the transition to net zero

This is in addition to the previously revealed $40 million allocated to promote the Stage 3 tax cuts. Given that changes to taxation are implemented by the ATO and flow through to taxpayers automatically, spending $40 million advertising this change is the epitome of wasteful expenditure.

“If the Government’s policies were any good, they wouldn’t need to pay to advertise them. Labor are trying to trick Australians into believing they’re doing a good job, but Australians know the opposite is the case,” James Stevens said.

ENDS

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