House debates

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions without Notice

Government Advertising

3:07 pm

Photo of Jim ChalmersJim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The government has continued to spend taxpayer money on advertising its so-called comeback, even as it has failed to meet its vaccine rollout targets. How much taxpayer money has been spent spruiking the Prime Minister's slogans, compared to public health communications encouraging Australians to get vaccinated?

Photo of Michael McCormackMichael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | | Hansard source

It's always important for a government, be it our side or be it those opposite when they were in power during those six, sorry, dysfunctional, chaotic years, to ensure that important public information messages get out there. That is why we have a very transparent advertising system, through which we advertise such things as the vaccination rollout and such things as availability, working in conjunction, collaboration and cooperation with states and territories, to ensure just that. We want Australians to get vaccinated. There is no more important task for Australians at the moment than to get that jab and then to get that second vaccination. We are making sure that, with any advertising, it's always transparent and the information is always made public. It's important information that the federal government gets out to advise Australians accordingly what they could and should be doing on behalf of their communities and their nation.