“The Prime Minister should release the advice she has received about the propriety of running a taxpayer-funded ad
campaign during the pre-election period,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“This morning on RNZ, the Prime Minister said the Government had asked the State Services Commission whether its ‘Unite
for Recovery’ campaign was within the rules. Ardern should release that advice so taxpayers can be assured they’re not
funding publicity for political purposes.
“If continued beyond Friday, the nationwide ad campaign could breach the Cabinet rules and government advertising
guidelines. The Cabinet Manual reads:
‘Successive governments, however, have chosen to restrict their actions’… ‘from about three months before the general
election is due…’ and ‘…government advertising has been considered inappropriate during the election campaign, due to the heightened risk of a
perception that public funds are being used to finance publicity for party political purposes.’
“The Guidelines for Government Advertising go on to say:
‘Government advertising should be presented in a manner which is…free from partisan promotion of government policy.’
“This morning, the PM asked rhetorically how the campaign could be considered political. The ‘Unite for the Recovery’ website promotes at least a dozen new Labour Government spending initiatives.
“The Government’s economic response to Covid-19 is now at risk of becoming hyper-political. It is spending tens of
billions of dollars and running a nationwide, taxpayer-funded ad campaign during an election campaign telling voters
what money they’re eligible for.
“The Government’s economic response is also deeply ideological. It has given no consideration to reducing the tax burden
or pausing new regulatory initiatives, and, in fact, it has continued with freshwater regulations, increases to the
minimum wage, and taxes on road users.
“Grant Robertson’s outline of his economic plan yesterday focussed solely on spending money. There was not a single mention of reducing tax or
regulation to boost the economy, or using innovative technology to reopen the border.
“New Zealanders are deeply anxious about jobs and debt. They don’t want ideology; they want certainty.
“The Government can provide that certainty by laying out a clear economic plan. Of course, it will need to spend more in
the short-term, but it must also show that it is considering ideas other than just spending money.
“It should look to ACT’s clear, comprehensive plan to reduce taxes and red tape, boost economic growth, offer new job opportunities, and use innovative technology to
create the world’s smartest borders, while taking on less debt.”