ELECTION ADVERTISING

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): As a supplementary question: given his answer, will the Premier apply the same standard to his own government in the three months leading up to the March 2010 election, namely, that unless the Leader of the Opposition agrees, all taxpayer-funded political advertising will end?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:34): Yes, I can announce today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: No, no, no—breaking news—a total ban on government funding of political advertising before the next election. I will make sure that there is none.