Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The government had authorised the advertising campaign in support of the government’s policies in order to provide public information. As part of the negotiations with industry, the Prime Minister today offered to suspend that campaign in order to, if you like, lower the heat in the debate and indicate her willingness to work with the mining industry on these issues. I make it very clear that I will not be lectured to by Senator Abetz about the use of government advertising, given his appalling record and the politicisation of campaigning through the Howard government years, the huge waste of taxpayers’ money and the atrocious campaign that occurred in terms of industrial relations legislation on his watch. We will not be lectured by the opposition on the question of abuse of advertising— (Time expired)