Guest Post- Anon
Just wonderful – Another four years for this do nothing government. Unbelievable. We desperately need more dams and roads but all this pathetic lot do is talk about it. I notice the government paid advertising is back on the radio full bore again. Last year they spent something like $290 million on that crap. I guess the high country people really appreciate Brack’s banning the maintain cattle men now. The extra fuel load in the bush the cattle would have eaten is helping them keep there mind off not having much water or the fact Brack’s lot are releasing lots of it into rivers to keep the greenies happy.Still there is one ray of sun shine in all of this I can say “Don’t blame me I voted for Ted for the next four years” assuming I don’t move North and escape. :-)
Labels: Advertising, Guest Post, Rural
Report Targets Bracks, Bureaucrats
A committee report, released out of parliamentary sesssion, has criticised senior public servants for awarding themselves bonuses, as well as the inclination for the Bracks Government to use public monies for advertising itself.
This reminds an amusing episode of
Yes Minister,
Doing The Honours, where the performance of senior public servants had nothing to do with their honours being presented; it was just a natural progression.
Jim Hacker: "When did a civil servant last refuse an honour?"
Bernard Woolley: "Well I think there was somebody in the Treasury that refused a Knighthood."
Jim Hacker: "Good God. When?"
Bernard Woolley: "I think it was 1496."
Jim Hacker: "Why?"
Bernard Woolley: "He had already got one."Less amusingly, and more important, are the safeguards recommended to prevent the government selling itself. A series of advertising campaigns, 05/06 financial year had attracted
"recurring political and media controversy", the committee said.
These include:
- $122,000 on advertising a yet to be compelted Spencer Street/Southern Cross Station
(Exhibit 4.5 P143) - $135,171 telling Victorians about the different colours of number plates available
(Exhibit 4.4, P144) - $42,860 trumpeting the Bracks ban on cattle grazing in Alpine National Parks
(Exhibit 4.5, P153)
Labels: Advertising, Rural, Transport
Party Away Your Health Worries
$450,000
Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars
Thats how much Steve Bracks and his government have spent to celebrate the opening of the new
Austin and
Mercy hospitals.
Amongst the bill for Victorian taxpayers:
- $15,000 for roving performers and stage acts
- $9300 for muffins, danishes, slices and other refreshments
- $15,000 for invitations and flyers
- $46,000 for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike's Party
Tax Justice Association national director Peter McDonald puts it best:
"You don't need to have 20,000 people at something as a feelgood exercise: all you need is an announcement through the media and everyone will know the new hospital, or whatever, is open."
This isn't the first time that Bracks has used big events to soften the pain for cost blowouts. From Victorian Hansard on 1 March 2006:
"Last April the Premier and the Minister for Transport had Max the Magician, Spaghetti the Clown and Thomas the Tank Engine selling the Spencer Street railway station redevelopment and the fast rail project at a party bash, a pathetic public relations stunt that, based on the good freedom of information work done by the member for Brighton — cost taxpayers at least $170 000, all for a one-day shindig. It was a ridiculous open day when nothing was in fact actually open."
also Railpage:
Despite the many thousands of dollars spent advertising the event, just 4500 people attended the day-long festivities at Spencer St Station in April. As well as clowns, face painters and rides for the children, the publicity stunt featured 10,000 balloons, ribbons, banners, stickers, audio-visual displays and two photographers to record it all.
The Bracks Government has spent $800,000-plus on parties and breakfasts to "sell" troubled major projects to voters and will spend about $5 million more on ads and events leading up to this year's election. Think of the money that could have been spent to retain Victorian doctors.
Labels: Advertising, Education, Health, Transport
