The State Liberals have called on the Weatherill Government to rule out wasting taxpayer funds on political advertising following Thursday’s State Budget.
“The Weatherill Labor Government’s track record on misusing and abusing public money on political advertising is abysmal,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas.
“At a time when South Australian households and businesses are struggling under Labor’s punishing ESL bills, skyrocketing electricity costs, increased water charges, and the highest unemployment in the nation, it would be outrageous for the Weatherill Government to launch a blatant political advertising campaign regarding the State Budget.
“Jay Weatherill and Tom Koutsantonis have form when it comes to misusing and abusing public money on political advertising. South Australians won’t forget the $500,000 spent on blatantly political ads featuring Jay Weatherill and his so-called energy plan, or the $750,000 grant given to the One Community political front group.
“The Liberal Party accepts that all governments are entitled to a modest level of government funded advertising to publicise new initiatives. However, the Weatherill Government has abused this convention and waste massive amounts of money, and also wrongly promoted politicians such as the Premier in their advertising.
“The Auditor-General has previously looked at the Weatherill Labor Government’s questionable expenditure on political advertising but it hasn’t stopped further breaches of the guidelines by an arrogant government, addicted to spin.
“South Australians expect Mr Weatherill and Mr Koutsantonis to kick the habit of dipping their hands into state coffers to pay for party political ads which should be paid for by the Labor Party, not taxpayers.”