Spendthrift Rudd sinks $11m in ads

Figures obtained by Liberal senator Cory Bernardi reveal that the Federal Government has spent $11.5 million on advertising its $10 billion stimulus package and the bonus funds for the first home owner grant (FHOG) scheme.

More than $5 million went towards print, radio and online advertising of pre-Christmas bonuses. Some $6.4 million was put towards promotion of the extra funds available in the FHOG scheme, an expensive advertising investment of approximately $40 per eligible person.
 
“Just one department in this arrogant government spent over $11.5 million to let people know the government would be sending them money,” reported Bernardi. “They then spent over $10,000 per week to read the results of their efforts in the press through a media monitoring service; that’s more than a half a million dollars to read about themselves in the paper.”
 
A spokesperson from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, which provided the data, said the spending complied with the guidelines for campaign advertising, was approved by the Auditor-General and was “a very modest campaign [compared to] Howard government standards”.

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