Consistent with the Government's objective of achieving savings across the public sector a more consolidated approach will be adopted for the provision of media monitoring services to Government.

Monitoring services will be restricted to significant Government issues. The services will be provided to all Ministers' Offices and agencies via Premier's Department Media Monitoring Unit (MMU). MMU will be the sole Government purchasing authority of monitoring services from commercial organisations and will electronically redistribute these services to Ministers' Offices and agencies. Ministers' Offices and agencies should not separately engage commercial organisations for these services. This arrangement applies to print, radio and television monitoring.

To achieve further savings, agencies are directed to provide their own internal metropolitan print monitoring (e.g. Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Australian, Financial Review). Print monitoring services for metropolitan publications should not be purchased from commercial monitors.

Ministers' Offices should consult with their agencies to determine the significant issues for their portfolio and advise Premier's Department by email [email protected] by 24 May. A whole of Government brief will be developed by Premier's Department based on this advice.

This new arrangement will commence early in the next financial year. Ministers' Offices and agencies should continue with current arrangements in the meantime and no new agreements or contracts are to be entered into. Agencies in a contract arrangement that extends beyond the commencement of the new contract should consult with Premier's Department concerning their arrangements. Further information including guidelines will be provided by Premier's Department during the next two months.

Bob Carr
Premier

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updated by C2006-30