State government agencies have been ordered to slash advertising spend by 15 per cent and reduce the use of consultants by $5 million each year as the government undertakes a review into advertising and communications.
State government agencies have been ordered to slash advertising spend by 15 per cent and reduce the use of consultants by $5 million each year as the government undertakes a review into advertising and communications.
In keeping with its pre-election promise, Acting Treasurer Peter Collier said the government had identified potential savings in advertising of more than $6.4 million over a year.
This was part of target of combined savings in media, marketing, advertising and the use of consultants which totals more than $18 million each year.
"In addition to these savings, all government agencies - including Government Trading Enterprises - have been asked to reduce spending on media and marketing by up to one-third," Mr Collier said.
"We have included Government Trading Enterprises in this efficiency push because they spend more than 50 per cent of the total of amount spent by all other government agencies combined.
Mr Collier said that under the revised targets, total campaign and non-campaign advertising spend would be cut by $3.2million for the remainder of this financial year with further reductions in subsequent years.
He said all government agencies had also been asked to find savings within their media and marketing units with planned savings for the balance of this financial year of $4.3million.
"For example, the Department of Premier and Cabinet has nearly 44 websites, some of which we have already closed, and we are seeking to rationalise and streamline these areas and other areas of obvious duplication," Mr Collier said.
He said that in line with the cuts, the government through the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Treasury, was undertaking a review of all government advertising and communications.
"This review is aimed at ensuring that taxpayers are getting better value for money and that needless duplication is avoided and that agencies work more co-operatively in planning and spending on advertising and promotions," he said.
"We also need to make sure that important community awareness, education and information campaigns - such as Road Safety and Tourism - are properly planned and targeted."
Mr Collier said the government spent an estimated $31 million last financial year on consultants and that the cuts being considered would total about $3.6 million for the remainder of this financial year.
"The excessive reliance on consultants was also being targeted and would provide additional savings to taxpayers as part of the Government's drive for greater efficiency," he said.
