House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Grievance Debate Government Advertising GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING Mr VENNING House of Assembly Schubert Mr VENNING (Schubert) (16:01): Just last week the Liberal Party announced that, when we win government in March next year, we will raise the land tax threshold from $110,000 to $250,000 to benefit about 57,000 property owners in South Australia. This plan will cost about $130 million over four years. The announcement caused an outcry from the government about how we would fund the plan when we are elected. The Treasurer said: How are they going to pay for it? I mean we are still in a very difficult financial position here in South Australia…whilst I'm Treasurer we are very, very efficient in the way we manage our finances and there ain't much to be cut. Let us examine some of the current government's spending habits in what our state Treasurer describes as 'a very difficult financial position' and see how efficient they really are. In the first six months of this year, the Rann Labor government spent $23 million on advertising—$23 million. That would go a long way to providing extra services and reducing taxes to benefit all South Australians. Efficient? I think not. That in itself would pay this land tax policy which we have put forward. It gets worse. In the Treasurer's own words he said, 'We probably spend about $70 million a year across government on advertising.' So, as for funding a plan to cut taxes which will benefit many South Australians, it is clear that there is significant capacity to cut back on extravagant spending on government advertising and to better utilise those funds elsewhere. During the last year of the Liberal government in 2001-02, government advertising expenditure was $20 million, which, some would say, is high enough, anyway. Since the Rann Labor government has been in power, the expenditure on government advertising has increased by $50 million per year—that is using the Treasurer's own estimates. How much do we not know about? But the real story could be far worse, as was revealed a few weeks ago to a Legislative Council select committee. The figure publicly quoted by the Rann Labor government of $34 million last year for government advertising significantly understated the total cost. It only related to the cost of buying radio and television air time, not other costs associated with using advertising agencies, market research and staff costs. How much is hived away as general government expenditure? It is not hard to see how the government has racked up such a massive advertising bill. Every time you turn on the TV or radio, there is some advertising featuring the Premier, whether it be the desalination plant advertisements which were broadcast a few months ago or whether it be the attempt to hard sell the new rail yards hospital to the people of South Australia. When the Rann Labor government was elected to power in 2002, it made a direct promise that it would cut government advertising significantly. Now we know that just did not happen. Then again in the 2006-07 budget, it announced that it would cut government advertising by $9 million over three years. Then it decided it would delay these cuts and it has still not delivered this either. However, advertising is only one area of wastage by the Rann Labor government. Some of the bills ministers have amassed with extravagant and excessive entertaining are just ludicrous. It is a slap in the face to all South Australians and just demonstrates how arrogant the Rann Labor government has become. For example, the Treasurer tipping $63 in the Whiskey Blue nightclub in New York; drinks, including $18 a piece cocktails purchased after midnight; $29 for a glass of Moet—all on the public purse. I do not mind them doing this, I have done it myself, but there are times when you decide to use your own wallet and not the public's. Reasonable use of ministerial credit cards and expense claims has always been supported by former Liberal and Labor governments, but this is beyond a joke. I would like to know what kind of ministerial business is being conducted in a nightclub at 1 o'clock in the morning. There was also a huge opportunity to reduce the cost of government in South Australia, the cost of government ministers' and premier's media relations officers, the multimillion dollar spin team and to cut the government's burgeoning public relations department. We heard the announcement today about 1,500 being laid off. Well, you are laying them off, but why did you put them on in the first place? Look at the cost. It is quite clear that premier Rann has a complete and utter disregard for the people of South Australia who elected him to his position and who pay taxes to fund his excesses. The Rann Labor government's advertising is an example of an arrogant Premier and government increasingly becoming more out of touch with the priorities and expectations of South Australians. It seems that, as long as premier Rann and his Labor government are in power, they will continue to spend millions of taxpayers' dollars spinning their messages to South Australians. People here deserve better. Time expired.