Government funded advertising

The Electoral Reform Bill is only one half of Labour’s proposed re-election plan.  They couldn’t quite find a way to say no one but Labour can spend much money next year, so instead they put in draconian restrictions on third parties and political parties, while simultaneously planning a series of Government funded publicity campaigns which will swamp the airwaves.

National in Parliament yesterday tabled comments showing how taxpayer funded call centres will inform people asking that “The Labour-led Government has invested $2.2 billion over the past six years to help make primary care more affordable for everyone”.

Now let’s not pretend that anyone is a virgin when it comes to Government publicity campaigns.  They occur under all parties, and will do so in the future.  And some are very necessary, while others less so.

I’m not particularly convinced that one needs three years of television ads telling people it is now cheaper to visit the doctor.   One could do a much better job with a personalised direct mail letter, giving people local details of PHOs etc.