'They think the rules don't apply': Labor cries foul on government ad spend

Updated 8 days ago by Joe Colbrook

An extension to a government advertising campaign, authorised in the waning hours of the previous Rockliff government, has been referred to an independent authority.

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad says she has asked the Auditor-General to investigate payments made by the government to Pulse Media Group to promote the 2025-26 state budget.

The government says the spend was above board.

The budget, handed down in May 2025, failed to pass parliament due to a no-confidence motion tabled by former Labor leader Dean Winter.

Ms Haddad said, while there was nothing wrong with government-funded advertising campaigns, the timing was suspicious given the impending election.

She acknowledged the Labor Party, for instance, also paid for such campaigns while in government but said these were not to promote election commitments.

"There's no doubt that governments spend money on advertising," Ms Haddad said.

"That's not the question here, but taxpayers are right to expect that when the government spends money on advertising, it's about public messaging. Things that are important to the public, not spruiking election party content."

Mr Winter's no-confidence motion passed on June 5, and Premier Jeremy Rockliff visited Governor Barbara Baker on June 10 to request an early election.

The election was called on June 11.

Payments on two invoices, totalling $13,431, which extended a full digital takeover advertising campaign on free outlet Pulse Tasmania, were approved by the Department of Premier and Cabinet on June 10, and June 11.

These invoices were released by the department through a request made under the Right to Information Act.

The shadow attorney-general said she asked the Auditor-General to consider these factors in a potential investigation.

She said the government was "entitled, old, and tired", and disregarding ethics and transparency.

"They're now at the point, after 11 years of administration, where I think they think the rules don't apply to them," Ms Haddad said.

"They think they can get away with anything. They can sweep it under the carpet and say 'there's nothing to see here'."

A government spokesperson said the spend was above board, and the government had acted in line with caretaker provisions which came into effect on June 12.

"Tasmanians have a right to be properly informed about the activities of government, including information about cost of living relief," the spokesperson said.

"The Governor made her decision to grant an election on the evening of June 11. The public information campaign concluded at the same time."