$180,000 spent on new logo, Facebook and ‘style guide’ for net zero authority revamp

Work included new logos and a written style guide, as well as establishing social media profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addresses the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra.Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A basic revamp of a government agency focused on advising businesses and workers on how to protect jobs while shifting to a ‘Net Zero economy’ has cost the taxpayer $180,000.

Documents revealed under Freedom Of Information laws show Anthony Albanese’s Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet issued a $180,628.80 contract to inner western Sydney ‘strategic design consultancy’ Folk, as part of the establishment of the Net Zero Economy Authority.

Work included new logos and a written style guide, as well as establishing social media profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn.

The changes were made when the Net Zero Economy Agency was rebadged to become the Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) last year.

A Net Zero Economy Authority logo, after the agency was rebranded. Picture: Supplied

One of the authority’s new logos, created in the facelift, include the body’s name in simple white text next to two tilted squares on a black background.

Executive Director of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance Brian Marlow said it was an example of taxpayers being treated like “an endless ATM”.

“The Net Zero Economy Authority just blew nearly $180,000 of taxpayer money on a rebrand and all they got was new logo, website, and a social media tidy-up,” he said.

“The truth is, the Net Zero Economy Authority shouldn’t even exist. Australia produces four-fifths of bugger all global emissions, while China and India ramp theirs up. Yet we’re the ones copping the economic pain. It’s ideological madness paid for by everyday Australians.

“This kind of spending is rampant across government, where style is prioritised over substance and taxpayers are treated like an endless ATM.”

Coalition spokesman for energy and emissions reduction Dan Tehan laid the blame for the costly change at Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s feet.

“Chris Bowen needs to explain how spending taxpayers’ money to change a logo led to cheaper power bills and lower emissions,” he said.

Dan Tehan holds a door-stop at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It would seem to him that throwing another $180,000 on the bonfire is nothing, but that’s a lot of money to Australians struggling to pay their electricity bills.”

The authority, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Mr Bowen were contacted for comment.

The agency was abolished in December after legislation to establish the authority was passed.

The authority said the revamp helped establish “a consistent and professional visual identity for a new statutory authority”, with work completed since its formation including developing and administering the Energy Industry Jobs Plan (EIJP), which supports workers impacted by closures of coal and gas-fired power stations.

The body’s stated goals include helping workers in those fields find “well paid, safe and secure jobs”, with NZEA CEO David Shankey this week heading to the NSW Hunter region to consult workers, employers, and unions on the impending closure of the Eraring coal-fired power station.

Originally published as $180,000 spent on new logo, Facebook and ‘style guide’ for net zero authority revamp