Special Minister of State Alex Hawke confirmed he has overturned regulations that prohibit MPs using their $137,000-a-year, taxpayer-funded office budgets for television and radio ads – which takes effect immediately, in time for the election.
Under current arrangements, MPs and senators can spend their ‘office budget’ on flyers and printed ads, websites, office stationery and supplies, mobile signage and other items [but] radio and TV broadcasting were explicitly banned until now.
The change does not require legislation, although Labor will attempt to disallow it when Parliament returns in April for the budget, before the election is called. Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek said if Labor could not stop the change in opposition, it would ‘make people pay back the money’ if it wins government.
Source: SMH