Just where do the government’s advertising dollars go? Danielle Veldre
You won’t hear agencies complaining about government advertising processes—not publicly anyway.
The recent ads from the Federal Government on changes to its industrial relations policy has brought with it the usual howls of protest of government using taxpayer dollars to fund party political messages.
But the issue of due process in government advertising has long rankled with agencies, which have been burnt by governments appointing agencies they have relationships with, rather than those which may be better suited to the job.
Of course, the advertising business is one based on relationships but this becomes a sensitive issue when public money is involved.
The Tourism Australia review is another government pitch which has caused the industry to complain, again largely privately, about process not being followed.
Clearly the government itself is worried about the results of the review, having called in KPMG to conduct a probity audit, as B&T reported last week.
And don’t even try to get any information from the Government Communications Unit—the part of the Department of Premier and Cabinet charged with administering all the government advertising requirements—about what’s happening with any of these accounts either. The GCU will simply not comment. Nor will the ministers responsible for the relevant portfolio.
I have to say that I not only find this frustrating from a professional perspective, but also from that of an Australian taxpayer. Don’t I have a right to know how my money is being spent, by whom and when?
One agency source who was embroiled in the controversial Telstra review (which is partially government owned) of a few years ago which saw George Patterson Partners appointed without a pitch to a guaranteed $12m portion of the telco’s business, was angered by the lack of process, but philosophical about the result.
“Regulations are there so managers can’t put their favourite agencies on, which is a load of shit. It’s just a complete mockery. But it’s swings and roundabouts,” the source said.
