Taxpayer Funded Political Advertising

John Howard Lie #1

“. . . we will ask the Auditor-General to draw up new guidelines on what is an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money in this area. There is clearly a massive difference between necessary Government information for the community and blatant Government electoral propaganda. Propaganda should be paid for by political parties.”
John Howard, Press Release, “Auditor-General to examine Government Advertising”, 5 September 1995

The Truth:

The Howard Government never asked the Auditor-general to examine Government Advertising and they completely ignored the advertising guidelines recommended by the Auditor-General in 1998.

In the lead up to the 2004 election the government plans to spend at least $120 million on government advertising.

“In relation to future government advertising, we will explain government policies where it is necessary. We make absolutely no apology for that . . . The truth of the matter is that all governments . . . from time to time have advertised and explained the features of new policies.”
John Howard, Question Without Notice, Hansard, 22 June 2004