IR ads bill hits $55m

Taxpayers have been hit with a $55 million bill to advertise the Howard Government's unpopular industrial relations revolution, with $1.4 million a day spent on advertising in the past three weeks.

Many of the lucrative contracts for the publicity blitz went to companies that run the Liberal Party's election campaigns, sparking Labor accusations the Government is channelling public money to its mates.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday revealed the budget for advertising the WorkChoices package was now $55 million. That included $44.3 million for ads, $8.1 million for call centres and $2.6 million on 16-page brochures. Labor senator John Faulkner branded the spending a "disgrace" and Democrats senator Andrew Murray said it was "immoral".

read more