Page 3943 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 9 November 1994
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Department of Health - Public Relations Unit
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is to Mr Connolly. Yesterday, the Minister poured scorn on his New South Wales counterpart for a campaign which he described as "extolling the virtues of Ron Phillips and the New South Wales Liberal Government". The Minister told the Assembly, "When you see that sort of stuff ... involving me, you can ask your silly question". Madam Speaker, I direct a silly question to the Minister for Health. Was it the Minister that I saw at about midnight, I think, on Monday night in a television commercial for the Consumer Affairs Bureau, espousing the virtues of the residential tenants kit produced by the Follett Labor Government, or has the Government hired Mr John Cleese to make its television commercials for it? Given that the Minister is involving himself in self-promotional material, can the Minister now answer the question squarely: Why is the Department of Health's public relations unit still in existence, when he said that it would be disbanded? Is it to make sure that opportunities such as this are taken up whenever they come along?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I think Mr Humphries meant to say, "I will ask another silly question". There is an ad that has been put together and funded by a consortium of people, including private sector interests who have been sponsoring a very worthwhile initiative, the consumer information kit. I was asked to do the - - -
Members interjected.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: It would be better if they were called to order. It has got to the point where some people might have to be named if this continues.
MADAM SPEAKER: I will consider that on its merits at the time. For the time being, let us have order.
MR CONNOLLY: I was asked to do the on air presentation of that consumer affairs message. It was sponsored, as I say, by a number of very prominent business houses around town. My understanding was that it was put to air as a form of community service announcement. It is certainly not a paid government ad. What I was referring to yesterday in relation to Mr Phillips was the full-page ads - I seem to recall, in a Sunday paper, double full-page ads - paid for by the New South Wales Government in what is a pre-election period, as we are now in, and when it is known that the New South Wales Government will be going to the polls in March. We go to the polls in February; New South Wales goes in March. So, that is one month, or four weeks, or thereabouts, before, Mr Humphries. As I say, we are not engaging in such a major, paid, full-page newspaper ads exercise, with the Minister being prominently featured; although I did appear in a community services ad, because I presume that I have established a reputation, over some time, in consumer affairs. I seem to recall a statement from your fair self, Mr Humphries, "We do have the world's best Consumer Affairs Minister". I do not have the date, but I will check. I think it was sometime in September or October.
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