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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1061 ..

Subordinate law 2004-6 Electoral Amendment Regulations 2004 No 1 tabled last week by the government changes this exception to add the words “Building our city, building our community”. Note that this requirement is for the words only, not the logo. I think members also need to note that there is not the triple requirement of crest, government and agency identification.

A government publication will be exempt only if it uses “Building our city, building our community”, which I will now keep referring to as BOCBOC. In effect, this will allow the Labor Party many months of free political advertising, because there is absolutely nothing to stop the Labor Party from using BOCBOC—“Building our city, building our community”—as its campaign slogan after it has been used as a banner headline for any amount of taxpayer funded advertising; if not exactly that slogan, something very similar.

There is also the point that “Building our city, building our community” is not an appropriate identifier. Governments should be identified only by their coat of arms or crest, the government’s name and the government’s agency involved. Traditionally that is how it has been done. That is why we have laws and have passed laws in terms of the Electoral Act. You cannot have a minister’s smiling face there within six months of an election without an authorisation.

It is to ensure that a notice from a government agency is just that, and it cannot be confused with propaganda or advertising for the government and some sublime message that will be then used as part of an election campaign. It is there for very good reason. The government, in trying to slip this one under the radar and pull a swiftie on us, should be ashamed of itself. It is a very audacious attempt by the Labor government here to rort the Electoral Act.

This subordinate legislation gives this slogan of the day the same status as that of the coat of arms. The coat of arms and the words “ACT government” represents all governments; they represent government as a neutral entity. They are effectively a public service notice: the coat of arms, the words “ACT government”, and usually the agency. That has been traditional for many years.

The coat of arms and the words “ACT government” represent the government regardless of whether it is a Labor government, a Liberal government or even the old Alliance government. This subordinate legislation, if allowed, will make the concept of government inherently partisan. It is completely inappropriate and represents an abuse of government. It may be a cynical view, but I have no doubt that come the election campaign I would not be at all surprised to see this mob unveil as its slogan “Building our city, building our community” or something very similar to that. I suppose it is not a bad slogan. Why not use it? It is probably better than “Feel the power of Canberra” and I certainly did not put that on my numberplate. God knows what would have happened had I gone to Sydney.

“Building our city, building our community”—catchy little slogan—watch this space. If this subordinate legislation is passed, we will be plastered with taxpayer funded “Building our city, building our community” material. It effectively gives Labor seven months of free advertising. Guess what members? We are only about seven months and I

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