Qld politics: Labor Govt spends $5m on jobs, health, mining ads

The State Opposition has called out the Government’s latest $5 million advertising campaigns as arrogant political spin.

• Premier slams $40m mining ad campaign

The Queensland government has splashed close to $5m of taxpayer dollars on various advertising campaigns to promote its jobs, healthcare and mining strategies.

A recent Question on Notice has revealed the government’s highly touted Queensland Energy and Jobs plan has a $2.6m advertising campaign attached.

The government has also spent $1m on advertising its “Queensland Health and Hospital Plan”, and $1.06m on advertising its increase to coal royalties.

Health Minister D’Ath described the hospital plan advertising blitz as aiming to “inform and educate users of the health system of the capital investment, innovation and improvements taking place”.

The government also spent $175,000 on a new minerals advertising campaign known as “New Economy Minerals”, which was described by Resources Minister Scott Stewart as “crucial to ensuring Queenslanders are aware of the government’s plan for the resources industry”.

Together, the costs to taxpayers adds up to $4.83m in the five months since the June budget.

Shadow treasurer David Janetzki accused the government of “arrogantly spending tax payer dollars advertising their own political spin”.

“We’ve seen it before with over $8m in taxpayer funds spent during 2020/21 to ‘inform Queenslanders of the state’s recovery plan’.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk along with other dignitaries, officially opens the new Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield ahead of the AFLW Grand Final on Sunday. Picture: Liam Kidston

“But it is getting worse.”

Last week Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk boycotted the Queensland Resources Council annual event over a new advertising campaign launched by the QRC asking the government to reconsider its royalty hike.

Bizarrely, she also took aim the reported $40m member – funded advertising cost – which the QRC have denied – saying that money could be “better spent helping Queenslanders before Christmas”.

Mr Janetzki said the government’s advertising spending was particularly wasteful as Queenslanders grappled with cost-of-living pressures, and proved the government had the wrong priorities.

“What Queenslanders need are more beds in hospitals, more police protecting communities and more housing to shelter the vulnerable,” he said.

“Instead the government is obsess with dozens of spin doctors embedded in the Premier’s office, glossy brochures and advertisements all paid for by hard working Queenslanders.

A government spokesman said all governments advertised their policies so people could be informed.

“The former LNP government, for example, spent $100 million promoting its Strong Choices policy about asset sales,” he said.