Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I ask the Prime Minister to confirm the evidence given in Senate estimates today that the cost of this week’s advertising for its industrial relations campaign is $4.1 million, or $585,000 per day, or approximately $25,000 per hour. Prime Minister, what was the budget for the industrial relations campaign that was approved last Thursday by the Ministerial Committee on Government Communications, of which your chief of staff is a member? How is wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars on pre-election PR campaigns compatible with prudent economic management and how is it justifiable to working families who are under pressure?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let me answer the question by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition by recalling the thunderous denunciation that came from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition when the Iemma government in New South Wales ran a campaign, in the lead-up to the New South Wales election, about the new state plan.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Prime Minister is answering the question. The Prime Minister must be heard.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It came on at every over break of the cricket on Channel 9—the ultimate obscenity as far as I am concerned!—and was filled with these absolutely ludicrous ads from the New South Wales government that were pure puffery. They provided no information, and it was ultimately revealed that the cost of the advertising campaign exceeded the cost of the plan.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about your advertising?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The deputy leader has asked her question.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remember how much that was denounced by the Leader of the Opposition when he joined Morris Iemma for the last campaign rally in Western Sydney and said what a great Premier Morris Iemma would make! You are total hypocrites on this subject. But let me just remind those who sit opposite, who say that it is a multimillion dollar PR campaign—

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, how much is it?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has asked her question.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Gillard interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is warned!

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will come to the question—calm down; don’t get too excited!—of cost in a moment. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition referred to this as a multimillion dollar PR campaign. Let me read the substance of one of the advertisements. This is what it says:

Australia’s workplace relations system has a set of rules and obligations that all employers are required, by law, to comply with.

That is a pure statement of fact. It goes on to say:

No-one can be forced to sign an agreement.

a pure statement of fact—

And any agreement signed by an employee aged under 18 must also be signed by a parent or guardian.

That is a pure statement of fact. It goes on:

Other obligations include:

·          Minimum wages

·          Working hours

·          Four weeks paid annual leave.

I thought that the minimum wages was the one that was omitted. That was the 11th tablet that came down from the mount. It continues:

·          Ten days paid sick leave.

·          One year unpaid maternity or paternity leave.

There is no PR in that; they are just pure statements of fact. Then it goes onto say:

The Workplace Authority will check agreements against a Fairness Test to make sure you get a fair deal.

Another statement of fact.

If an agreement doesn’t pass the Fairness Test, it will need to be changed so that it is fair and the employer will have to make up any back pay.

That is a terrible thing to tell people about, isn’t it? It says:

For more details, use the Workplace Infoline or the web site.

The deputy asked whether I can confirm evidence in the Senate. I will have a look at the evidence. Many times bitten, many times shy. The opposition are past masters at saying, ‘Will you confirm such-and-such, which was said by somebody on such-and-such an occasion?’ I will have a look at what was said in the Senate and if I can issue any confirmation I will.