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GOVERNMENT PUBLICITY CONTROL BILL 2000
EXPLANATORY NOTES
General Outline
Objectives of the Legislation
The objectives of this legislation are -
(a) to ensure, as far as possible, public money is not expended on
Government publicity for a partisan political purpose; and
(b) to establish an all-Party statutory committee to scrutinise and
formulate guidelines for Government publicity capable of being
used for a partisan political purpose.
Reasons for the objectives and how they will be achieved
Public money should be used for public purposes, not for partisan political
purposes.
This Bill provides the necessary basis for the establishment of an all-Party
statutory committee to scrutinise and formulate guidelines for Government
publicity to ensure, as far as possible, that public money is not expended on
Government publicity for a partisan political purpose.
Administrative cost to Government of implementation
There is already a Committee Office in the Parliament to provide
Parliamentary Committees with timely, accurate research, and
administrative and procedural support to fulfil their statutory and other
responsibilities.
Any administrative costs of establishing another parliamentary committee
have to be weighed against the public benefit of ensuring that there is public
confidence in the objectivity of Government publicity.
Fundamental legislative principles
The Bill is consistent with the fundamental legislative principles contained
in Section 4 of the Legislative Standards Act 1992.
Consultation
This Bill is a product of the widespread community concern over recent
Government publicity, including the use of photographs of Government
Ministers.
NOTES ON PROVISIONS
Short Title
Clause 1 sets out the short title of the Bill.
Act amended
The Bill amends the Parliamentary Committees Act 1995.
Main object of Act and its achievement
Clause 3 amends the main object of the Act to include the object of
ensuring, as far as possible, public money is not expended on Government
publicity for a partisan political purpose.
Establishment of Statutory Committee
Clause 4 provides for the establishment of a Government Publicity Review
Committee.
Government Publicity Review Committee
Clause 5 inserts a new part 4 division 7 which sets out the areas of
responsibility of the committee which include identifying Government
publicity that appears to the committee to have a capacity to influence public
support for a political party, a candidate or a Member.
These areas of responsibility include the formulation of guidelines, the
provision of advice, the monitoring and review of expenditure by public
authorities on Government publicity, and examining and reviewing the
practices and procedures of public authorities in securing Government
publicity.
Dictionary
Clause 6 defines certain terms used in the Bill.