Media Release - 18 August 2005

Inquiry Into Government Advertising and Accountability

Media Release - 18 August 2005

Inquiry into government advertising and accountability

The Senate committee inquiring into government advertising and accountability begins hearings in Canberra today and tomorrow, 18 and 19 August 2005.

"The Committee is looking forward to exploring with witnesses a range of issues to do with government advertising and the adequacy of parliamentary scrutiny of the large amounts of public money spent on it", said Senator Michael Forshaw, chair of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee.

"The Committee will be taking evidence from a number of experts in the area, as well as the Clerk of the Senate, senior officers in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the minister who heads the Ministerial Committee on Government Communications, Senator Abetz", said Senator Forshaw.

Appearing at today's hearing in Parliament House is Dr Sally Young from the University of Melbourne. Tomorrow's hearing will include Mr Harry Evans, Clerk of the Senate, former Department of Finance deputy secretary Professor Stephen Bartos, now of the ANU, and the Special Minister of State, Senator Abetz. Programs for both day's hearings are attached.

The inquiry has received submissions from nine witnesses, including a number of supplementary submissions. These and other information on the inquiry can be found at the inquiry website: www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/fapa_ctte/govtadvertising/index.htm

18 August 2005

Media comment: Senator Michael Forshaw, (02) 6277 3805
Further information: Alistair Sands, Committee Secretary, (02) 6277 3530

 

Public Hearing - Canberra, 18 August 2005

Committee Room 2S3
Parliament House, Canberra
Thursday, 18 August 2005
4.00pm

 

4.00pm Dr Sally Young , Lecturer, Media and Communications Program, University of Melbourne

 

Public Hearing - Canberra, 19 August 2005

Committee Room 2S3
Parliament House, Canberra
Friday, 19 August 2005
8.30am - 4.00pm

8.30am

Mr Harry Evans
Clerk of the Senate, Department of the Senate

9.30am

Professor Charles Sampford
Director, UNU-IEGL, The Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law 

10.30am

Professor Stephen Bartos
Visiting Fellow, Asia-Pacific School of Economics and Government, Australian National University  

11.30am

Mr Tony Harris
Professorial Fellow, Accounting and Finance, University of Wollongong

12.30pm

Dr Graeme Orr
Senior Lecturer, Law Faculty, Griffith University
(Via teleconference)  

1.30pm

Lunch

2.00pm

Senator the Honourable Eric Abetz , Special Minister for State

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Greg Williams , First Assistant Secretary
People, Resources and Communications Division
Chris Taylor , Assistant Secretary
Government Communications Unit

 

It should be noted that times allocated are indicative only. Senators, staff, departments and others should liaise with the Secretariat on the progress.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Finance and Public Administration
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3439
Fax: +61 2 6277 5809
Email: fpa.sen@aph.gov.au