Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 29 August 2011:

(1) Has the department contracted a firm to provide a media plan for the Young Worker Toolkit.

(2) What are the anticipated outcomes of the plan.

(3) What was the cost of the plan.

(4) How many staff in the department are engaged to provide media and communications services.

(5) Why were these services contracted out rather than done in-house.

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

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The department used the services of the master placement agency Universal McCann to provide a media plan involving advertising on social media websites and the distribution of Avant Cards to youth-related networks to inform young people about the Young Worker Toolkit.

All departments and agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 are required to place their communication advertising through Universal McCann.

(2) The objective of the media plan is to inform teenagers and young adults about the Young Worker Toolkit. This is a web-based resource optimised for smart phone use which informs young people of their rights and obligations under the Fair Work Act 2009 and to assist them with employment issues.

The media plan covers the period July 2011 to January 2012 and involves advertising on Facebook and Nine MSN websites, and distribution of Avant Cards. The advertising takes place in three tranches:

(3) The total cost of the advertising activity covered by the media plan, including the development and distribution of Avant Cards, is $75,977.20 GST inclusive.

(4) One departmental employee dedicates approximately 20 percent of a full-time workload to managing communication activities for the Young Worker Toolkit.

(5) The department used Universal McCann because it is a requirement that Australian Government agencies contract media buying services through this agency.