❓ Mr Birney questions the cost of the government's television campaign promoting the state budget. Dr Gallop provides a breakdown of the costs, compares them to previous spending by the coalition government, and defends the government's record on controlling advertising expenditure.
AnsweredQoN 289Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Some notice of this question has been given. I refer to the Government’s television campaign using children’s drawings promoting the state budget. (1) How much was spent on the production of these television advertisements? (2) How much was spent on the placement of the television advertisements? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(1) How much was spent on the production of these television advertisements? (2) How much was spent on the placement of the television advertisements? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(2) How much was spent on the placement of the television advertisements? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(1) How much was spent on the production of these television advertisements? (2) How much was spent on the placement of the television advertisements? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(2) How much was spent on the placement of the television advertisements? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
(1)-(2) As the Treasurer just said to me as I rose, this matter has already been public. The Leader of the Opposition will recall that on 24 May, two days after the budget was handed down, the Treasurer advised this house that the government would spend in the region of $170 000 on advertising to inform the public about our state budget. I am pleased to advise members that the Treasurer has done it again: he has come in under budget. This year’s advertising campaign promoting the 2005-06 state budget involved the production of three 30-second television commercials, and the total cost of producing those three commercials was $28 014.50, excluding GST. The cost of media placement was $120 053, excluding goods and services tax. I think that is right. Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr R.F. Johnson : Even you can’t believe it! Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : I paused because there was an extra comma in the answer, my friend. Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Therefore, the total expenditure for the state budget was $148 067.50, excluding GST. Let us compare that with the figures of the coalition when it was in government. It spent $168 000 in 1997-98, $214 000 in 1998-99, $137 000 in 1999-2000 and $164 000 in 2000-01. It spent more in 1997 than we spent eight years later. Of course, one would have to consider the increased cost of producing advertisements and higher media rates. I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
I take this opportunity to answer a question that was put to me on 3 May. The Leader of the Opposition’s claim on Tuesday, 3 May that a “status report” on the state government’s master media agency contract was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on 16 August 2000 does not tell the full story. The report was concocted in an effort to repudiate claims that the Court Government, the then coalition government, was wasting advertising dollars. It was a crude attempt to camouflage the fact that the coalition’s spending on advertising was out of control. In tabling the report, the former Premier claimed in this house that there had been no significant increase in advertising expenditure for the first three years of its final term. Strangely, no “status report” was tabled in the final year of the then coalition government. Had it been, it would have revealed a massive blow-out in advertising expenditure in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. In a desperate bid to retain government, the coalition spent $27.1 million in its final year, which is the highest spend on government advertising ever recorded. Of course, the coalition could not fool the people of Western Australia. They knew what they wanted; they wanted a change of government. They wanted the Labor Party in power in Western Australia delivering good government for the people - and that is what they got. Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr M.J. Birney interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : The Leader of the Opposition should listen. Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Since then, my government has taken steps to curtail government advertising expenditure. We have cut advertising and promotion budgets through the budget process. We revised the format for recruitment advertising, saving $2.7 million per annum. We revised the format for public notices and tenders, saving an estimated $1 million a year. In addition, my government was the first in the state’s history to introduce rigorous guidelines to ensure that its advertising and communications meet criteria pertaining to the public interest. Of course, the $27.1 million spent by the coalition in 2000 would these days equate to $30.8 million after factoring in the media rate increases. We can compare that with the final year spend by my government of $24.4 million in real terms. That is a saving of $6.4 million a year. That equates to 1 000 extra full-page advertisements a year in The West Australian . That is what we are saving for the people of Western Australia. Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Mr M.J. Birney : You spent $24 million? Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
Dr G.I. GALLOP : That is across government, my friend. There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
There is no doubt that we have reigned in advertising expenditure in Western Australia and it ill behoves the opposition to claim otherwise. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Yesterday I asked the Premier whether he would table an itemised costed list of his advertising for the past four years. He agreed to do that. Will you, Mr Speaker, ask the Premier whether he intends to table that document? The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point of order.
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