GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING (OBJECTIVITY, FAIRNESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY) BILL

Introduction and First Reading

Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (10:38): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to require government advertising to meet minimum standards with respect to objectivity, fairness and accountability, and to prohibit the expenditure of taxpayers' money on advertising which promotes party political interests. Read a first time.

Second Reading

Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (10:38): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am indebted to the Hon. Nick Xenophon for first producing this legislation in the upper house. The bill is filled with principles that everyone in this place would agree with. The question for South Australia is how to ensure that we can restrain governments in terms of their advertising so that they do not take advantage of the huge pool of taxpayers' money they have for improper purposes.

The bill sets out to achieve this in the following ways. The second clause imposes a substantial obligation on ministers who might authorise the use of public money for government advertising. It insists that any such advertising be carried out in accordance with the schedule, to which I will refer in a moment, and it imposes a maximum $100,000 fine upon a minister who misuses their position by improperly authorising advertising. Clause 2 of the bill also ensures that such a fine shall not be paid out of public funds. So, ministers will be very careful to adhere to that.

The third clause of the bill gives jurisdiction over these matters to the Supreme Court. Any voter would be able to go to the Supreme Court and complain that government advertising has not complied with the principles. Then there is schedule 1, which is a series of principles and guidelines for government advertising. Those principles are, first, that materials should be relevant to government responsibilities; secondly, that material should be presented in an objective and fair manner; thirdly, that material should not be party political; and, fourthly, that there should be judicious and economic use of government advertising.

The principles are ones with which we can all agree. I am not sure that everyone will agree with the legislation, but it is regularly something that irks members of the public when they receive government advertising. Quite often, it is a colourful brochure shouting about the budget or some government information campaign, invariably with a photograph of the Premier or appropriate minister, and lauding the government's efforts in whichever area it is. Most of it is unnecessary; some of it is genuinely for the purpose of conveying information.

The guidelines should be adhered to, and it seems that the only way one can do it is by implementing legislation to confine ministers and make them responsible for the expenditure of public money on government advertising. I commend the bill to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mrs Geraghty.