STATE GOVERNMENT

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:31): I rise to speak about the arrogance of the Rann government and its reliance on spin rather than substance. As all members will be aware, we see this every day of the week, not just on big issues but sometimes on small issues as well. We saw the spin in relation to the prorogation of parliament this year. The government spun the yarn to the media that this would give the government an opportunity, 18 months out from the next election, to start afresh, start anew, and to promote a bold new vision for the state.

Of course, when that particular vision, as outlined in the Governor's speech was, I think, to put it mildly, wholly underwhelming—no new vision at all outlined—the government spin doctors were out saying that the government had decided not to put all of its good stuff in the speech—it will release policies, programs and projects over the 18 months leading into the election.

However, on the small issues the Premier cannot help himself either, even with something as enjoyable as the City to Bay Fun Run on the weekend. The Premier, to his credit (along with other politicians on both sides), participated and assisted in raising funds for worthy causes. Nevertheless, he was out there spin doctoring with a photograph on Sunday and Monday, spinning the line that he had probably achieved his personal best walking time in the City-Bay this year, promoting an image of having trained hard and done well. I think the heading in the newspaper was 'Pasta the secret to Mike walking faster,' with his claim that he may have posted his personal best—coming straight after the Olympics.

I hate to disabuse the readers and listeners with regard to that spin from Mr Rann but, without going through all of his times, that particular statement is wholly untrue. Indeed, his time this year was 30 seconds slower than his time just three years ago. As I said, the Premier cannot just enjoy the City to Bay Fun Run without trying to spin a yarn that, following on from his heroes in the Olympics, he achieved his personal best when, in fact, just a simple check of the public records indicates that it was a full 30 seconds slower than just three years ago.

This, of course, comes this week within the context of stunning revelations that Mr Rann and this government are spending about $19 million a year, at least, on spin doctoring within government departments and agencies. It has taken some three or four months, under FOI, to try to get this information because Mr Rann is desperate not to see it released. It is a minimum estimate that there are some 140 people working full-time on spin doctoring media and communications functions within government departments and agencies.

That is an underestimate because some agencies did not provide estimates of the actual cost of the advertising programs and functions that they were implementing on behalf of their departments; some other agencies did, as they had been requested under freedom of information. That is at least, as I said, $19 million a year. The number of spin doctors and other ministerial staff within the 15 ministerial offices have jumped since the Liberal government was in office. There were some 191 staff in early 2002 and we now see, again under FOI, it is up to 294—an increase of 103 ministerial staff and spin doctors within ministers' offices. When you look at the total costs and increased staff, that is an extra cost of about $40 million over four years. The spin doctors within agencies are costing almost $80 million a year, together with the costs of implementing their particular functions.

That is the problem with this government: its arrogance and the fact that it prefers to spend money on spin doctors in ministerial offices and departments rather than on the real needs of doctors, nurses, teachers and helping families with children with disabilities.