Federal Government media spending decreased by nearly
30% in the year to June 2009, compared with the previous year, according to the Campaign Advertising by Australian Government Departments and Agencies
2008-09 report released this week by the Department of Finance. Spending on Radio was $27.4 million.

The Federal Government spent more on radio then on newspapers ($20.1m), but less than it spent on TV ($49.7m).

A total of $130 million was spent on all media during the financial year, a decline of 29.8% on the previous year (see chart below for full breakdown). $185.3m was spent on media during 2007-08, which was election year, and $170m was spent during 2006-07.

The government report seeks to track expenditure and provide spending guidelines for departments that “enhance accountability and transparency in campaign advertising, providing assurance that government advertising and information campaigns are objective, factual, explanatory and non-political.”

Government information and advertising campaigns with expenditure in excess of $250,000 must be reviewed by the Auditor-General.

Most money was spent on campaigns for defence force
Recruitingfollowed by campaigns for the Australian Taxation Office. Department of Communications campaigns to promote digital switchover cost $3.5m, and climate change campaigns
accounted for $8.3m of the total spend.

Full details of each campaign are on pages 20-44 of the report (click below for a pdf).