Kettle, meet a gigantic pot.
The WA Government has announced it will run a $220 000 advertising campaign (Less pay. No way!) against Howard’s industrial relations reforms. Premier Geoff Gallop says:
Our State labour relations system has provided fairness and protection for employees for 100 years and at the same time WA consistently leads the nation with respect to economic performance and low unemployment. This is why it is imperative that we fight the Howard Government’s plan to reduce wages, conditions and job security for working Western Australians.
Kevin Andrews attacked the campaign, suggesting “the money would be better spent on the social security system, employment programs and helping poor people.”
What hypocrisy! The cost of Gallop’s campaign is just one percent of the $20 million blitz that the Federal Government is about to launch.
Of course, that doesn’t include a brochure that will be sent out to millions of households, paid for by public money out of Coalition MPs’ communications allowance (The Australian, p6). This is more hypocrisy; Andrews told Parliament a smaller mailout opposing attacks on workers turned the MPs’ allowance into “a junk mail delivery service”.
If Andrews thinks $220 000 would be better spent on welfare and employment services, then what is he waiting for? He’s got over $20 million dollars to reallocate.
Update: The West Australian (p6) complains that the public will pay for Gallop’s ads, but doesn’t mention the Howard/Andrews campaign — or the fact that it will cost 100 times more. And as Frank Calabrese points out, the paper is guilty of “accepting payment to run those same ads they say are propoganda.”
Will The Federal Govt Campaign include a Fridge Magnet ?? :-)
And listen to the WA Libs and THe West bleating about Public Servants attending the Day Of Action, and Mark “I’m the WA Liberal’s new Toy-boy” complaining about not being able to conduct meetings during work time.
I’ll bet the ANF will rue Olsen when a future Liberal Govt in WA will move his members on AWA’s
That’s astonishing. And I love the patronising “why don’t you go spend it on POOR PEOPLE if you love them so much!”
Andrews. Fuckstick of the week.
Just more crap from the man called Kevin.