Taxpayers fund blatant propaganda

National MP Judith Collins has written to the Auditor-General asking him to examine a calendar advertising Labour Party policy that was paid for with public money.

The ‘Working and Growing Together’ calendar cost approximately $45,000 and was paid for from the Ministerial Services budget.

Answers to written questions show that the 15,000 calendars were sent to ‘a range of voluntary and community organisations, DHBs, health centres, local government and Members of Parliament for distribution’.

Ms Collins says the calendar is blatant Labour Party propaganda and it’s outrageous that it has been paid for out of the public purse.

“Hardworking New Zealanders don’t expect their tax dollars to be spent on a calendar that takes pot-shots at National and marks occasions like the day Helen Clark was elected as Prime Minister, but leaves out New Year’s Eve.”

The calendar includes:
o August 8, 2002 - Coalition agreement reached between the Labour Party and Progressive Coalition.
o October 1, 2004 - Working for Families Package puts more money in the pockets of low-and-middle income families with children and makes housing more affordable.

o October 2, 2000 - Employment Relations Act (2000) came into effect, restoring balance to the workplace.
o November 26, 1935 - First Labour Government elected.

“It’s propaganda, pure and simple. Helen Clark should be ashamed to be spending our taxes in this way,” says Ms Collins.

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