Transport Department unaware of CFMEU advertising on exterior of Adelaide Metro tram

The Transport Department says it was not made aware of CFMEU advertising installed on the exterior of an Adelaide Metro tram.

The Transport Department says it was not made aware of CFMEU advertising installed on the exterior of an Adelaide Metro tram, despite rules that ban political advertisements on government infrastructure.

A tram with “A Union of Opportunity” and the CFMEU South Australia logo on its side was photographed this week in the CBD.

The Transport Department says it was not made aware of CFMEU advertising installed on the exterior of an Adelaide Metro tram. Picture: Supplied

Following inquiries from The Advertiser, a Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokesman said “all external advertising on department-owned assets is managed by a third-party agency”.

“As part of this contract, advertising of this nature should have been brought to the department’s attention for review,” he said.

“The requirement for the advertising agency to notify the department did not occur in this instance and we are currently working with them on this matter.”

The spokesman said the advertising appears on one tram, which remains in operation with the advertisement on its sides while the department decides how to proceed.

It would not reveal how much was paid by the union to secure the advertising space.

A CFMEU spokeswoman said the advertisement was “part of a larger member campaign with multiple outdoor sites”.

“The CFMEU just like any advertiser has a right to book media space,” she said.

But opposition treasury spokesman Matthew Cowdrey said militant union boss John Setka had already “taken over South Australian construction sites with force”.

“Now he’s taking over our trams,” he said.

“The public deserves to know how much the CFMEU paid the Labor government for this atrocious advertising and why Peter Malinauskas is once again dallying with John Setka, whose reputation is shocking.”

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis talking about safety on the South East Freeway. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said there was a ban in place that prevented political advertisements from being displayed on trams.

“I don’t know how the CFMEU got onto one of these trams but I don’t think controversial topics belong on our trams,” he said.

“They are there to try and raise revenue for the state, to provide a service, not for political advertising.”

Mr Koutsantonis said he was “trying to get to the bottom” of what had happened.

Asked whether he would request that Adelaide Metro remove the material, he said: “I’m not sure that I have the power to do that”.

“I would expect them to enforce their own rules,” he said.

“Political advertising has no place on government infrastructure, but we don’t run our trams.

“We’re trying to bring them back into public hands, and when they’re back in public hands you won’t see any political advertising on our trams.”