Government spends $30 million advertising controversial asylum policy
A letter from Auditor-General, Ian McPhee has disclosed that the Australian Government’s spending on the controversial and maligned anti-immigration campaign is set to top $30 million.
The advert appears prominently in the press
The letter was written in response to Senator Nick Xenophon.
"Previous audit reports on government advertising have highlighted a tendency for campaign media expenditure to increase in the lead up to federal elections," McPhee wrote.
The campaign, utilising the strapline "You Won't Be Settled in Australia" is ostensibly addressed to migrants approaching Australia by boat, but is targeted at Australian voters.
Fairfax Media reported that the government spent $3 million in six days on the adverts. The campaign is now being extended to the anticipated countries of origin of those arriving by boat. It is currently running in 15 newspapers and Tamil-speaking radio stations in Sri Lanka.