$40 million provisioned to sell Labor's lie

A joint media release with
The Hon Angus Taylor MP
Shadow Treasurer

14 February 2024

The Albanese Government has revealed it has provisioned $40 million for an advertising campaign to sell its lie on the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

In response to Coalition questioning at the Senate Economics Committee, the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Katy Gallagher said “...the decision of government is to agree to a campaign of up to $40 million over two financial years in relation to the tax campaign.”

This provision is significantly higher than comparable campaigns on tax cuts delivered by the former Coalition Government.   

This revelation follows recent reports that Treasury advertised for $150,000 a year ‘spin doctors’ to support “key government priorities” and deal with “suppliers including creative, research and public relations agencies.”

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said this is another example of a government that thinks it can spin and spend its way out of a cost of living crisis.

“The government's broken promise will see 4 million people worse off in the next 10 years, and cost Australians an extra $28 billion in taxes.

“After spending $450 million on a failed referendum and adding $209 billion of extra spending, this government is spending $40 million on an advertising campaign for their lie to the Australian people.” 

Shadow Minister for Finance, Senator Jane Hume said Labor was using taxpayer dollars to spin its broken promise on the Stage 3 tax cuts. 

“Labor knows they can’t buy integrity for $15 a week, so they’re looking to spend $40 million trying to convince people of their lie instead.

“The Albanese Government has questions to answer, including whether this campaign will run during the Dunkley by-election.”