Premier slammed for $1m campaign

Victorian opposition accuses Daniel Andrews of spending taxpayers’ money “to campaign for Bill Shorten”.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews who has been accused of using taxpayer dollars to fund Mr Shorten’s election campaign. Picture: Ian Currie

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been accused of spending taxpayers’ money “to campaign for Bill Shorten”, raising concerns the Premier’s $1 million-plus Our Fair Share campaign contravenes his government’s guidelines that prohibit advertising to create a political outcome.

Mr Andrews yesterday visited patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital before unveiling the TV, radio, print and online campaign, which he claimed was intended to highlight a $305m cut in federal spending on health in Victoria and a $500m-a-year cut to the state’s government schools.

“The fact that we have to invest just over $1m in running a campaign to convince all sides of politics in this federal election that Victoria needs a fair share — perhaps says something about our politics,” Mr Andrews said.

“But be in no doubt, my job is to fight hard every day to get a fair share for Victorian patients, for Victorian students, for Victorian workers, for the fastest-growing state in our nation.”

Opposition Treasury spokeswoman Louise Staley said it was an “outrageous” way to spend taxpayers’ money.

“Last Friday we saw (the ­Andrews government) delay the budget because they didn’t want Victorians to know what was in it before the federal election,” Ms Staley said.

“One of the things they’re spending it on is campaigning for Bill Shorten.

“Daniel Andrews should be standing up for Victorians, not campaigning for Bill Shorten.”

Ms Staley said health funding is increasing every year and there was “no basis” for the campaign.

The Our Fair Share website links to the National Health Funding Pool website that shows funding for Victoria increasing.

A spokesman for Mr Andrews disputed this, saying: “No matter how you cut the stats, Victoria is being dudded by the commonwealth on health”.

“They have clawed back more than $300m in health funding — money that should stay in Victoria for services already delivered to Victorians,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman denied that the advertising campaign would meet the definition of a political campaign under the new federal electoral act, which would require the Andrews government to register as a political campaigner and pay a fee.

He also denied that the campaign contravened the Andrews government’s own guidelines on advertising.

“Guidelines for advertising on topics of this nature are outlined in the Public Administration Act. The Our Fair Share campaign is strictly in accordance with these provisions,” he said.

“For most advertising, the relevant public purpose is regulation 4(c) ‘to advocate on behalf of Victoria to advance Victoria’s position or interests’.

“That’s exactly what this campaign does — advocate for the best interest of Victorians.”