Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is again to the Prime Minister, and I refer to the government’s proposed taxpayer funded pro-nuclear communications campaign: has the Prime Minister seen evidence from Ms Tania Constable to Senate estimates that the department will provide a work plan for the nuclear campaign to the government in September? Has that date been set so the government has a work plan for the nuclear communications campaign in its possession prior to the election?

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

In relation to the communications strategy or whatever you want to call it, I remind the Leader of the Opposition that on 28 April this year, which was the weekend of the national conference of the ALP, I released a statement on uranium mining and nuclear energy. On page 2 of that statement, I indicated that there would be communications strategies so that all Australians and other stakeholders can clearly understand what needs to be done and why. So there has never been any intention by this government to deny the possibility or the need for a communications strategy. I have not seen the evidence given. I am not making any commitments about timing. I am interested in what the official had to say, but let me simply say to the Leader of the Opposition: we have indicated a disposition to have such a strategy. We think it is necessary. We make no apology for it, and watch this space for further information.