September 17th, 2024
National’s Public Service spokesperson, Simeon Brown, has condemned the Labour government's near tripling of advertising spending within the core public service since its inception in 2017.
The figures, compiled from the annual reviews of the core public services, depict a significant rise in advertising expenditure from $33 million in 2017 to $98.7 million in the 2022 fiscal year, marking a 197% increase. This trend also represents a 63% surge compared to the 2021 figures.
"This is an eye-watering 197% increase in government spending on advertising since Labour came to office in 2017, and a 63% increase on 2021 figures," Simeon Brown stated.
Although a substantial proportion of this expenditure may have been invested in Covid-19 related advertising, Brown asserts that the surge in spending commenced before the pandemic's advent in New Zealand.
"While New Zealanders would have expected extra spending on Covid-19 messaging, this does not explain the significant increases in advertising spending seen in other government departments," Brown commented.
In particular, Brown highlighted that the New Zealand Customs Service saw its advertising spend climb from $27,000 in 2018 to over $1.4 million in 2022. Similarly, the Department of Internal Affairs increased its advertising outlay from $880,000 in 2017 to $2 million in 2022.
Accusing the Labour party of being "addicted to spending taxpayers’ money", Brown claimed that the increase in advertising expenditure is a desperate attempt to mask their failure to deliver in the past six years.
"Labour is desperately trying to cover up the cracks of their failure to deliver in the past six years through advertising campaigns," Brown stated.
He concluded by affirming that a National-led government, if elected in October, would impose discipline on advertising spending within the core public service, ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent on delivering real outcomes rather than on advertising campaigns.