In May 1995 the Treasurer wrote to all Ministers requiring that advertising expenditure be reduced by 25% for budget sector agencies. Close examination of the way advertising is conducted across the Government has highlighted the need for a more coordinated approach to advertising to ensure that Government gets value for the taxpayers' money.From today all Government advertising practices will be coordinated by a Sub Committee of the Cabinet Standing Committee on the Budget. The Committee will be assisted by the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) in the Department of Public Works and Services. Agencies proposing the selection of advertising agencies or the conduct of an advertising campaign will be required to submit these proposals to the GAA. These submissions will in turn be scrutinised by the Cabinet Sub Committee.Agencies will be required to tender for the selection of advertising Agencies.The GAA must be represented on the tender committee, which must report its selection of preferred advertising agencies to the Cabinet Sub Committee for endorsement.Government Agencies will be required to submit proposals for campaign advertising to the GAA which will ensure that campaigns conform with government policy and priorities. Proposed campaigns with expenditure in excess of $100,000 will require the endorsement of the Cabinet Sub Committee. All campaigns will be subject to the discretionary scrutiny of the Committee.The above requirements will apply to all Government agencies with the exception of State Owned Corporations.State Owned Corporations should seek the advice of the GAA on the selection of Agencies and commissioning of campaigns. The GAA will continue to monitor expenditure by SOCs on advertising and the Cabinet Sub Committee will advise Shareholding Ministers of any advertising practices that are considered contrary to Government policies or priorities. in this respect, legislative proposals for the regulation of Government advertising during election periods will be considered by Cabinet in the near future.The Government Advertising Agency will continue to coordinate booking of all Government advertising.The Government Advertising Agency will circulate detailed procedures for campaign advertising and selection of creative agencies in the near future.

Bob Carr Premier

Issued by: The Cabinet Office

Contact Officer: John Grant

Telephone 9228 4514

Date: -6 Nov 1996