Government ‘No Visa’ campaign draws fire for being politically motivated
The Federal Government’s new ‘No Visa’ campaign is drawing from criticism from media buyers, politicians and political activists alike, who say the Government has launched a politically motivated campaign funded by taxpayers ahead of the upcoming federal election.
The first two days of the national campaign which so far features print and radio advertisements, apparently declaring to asylum seekers arriving without a visa by boat: “You won’t be settled in Australia”, is estimated by media buyers to have cost taxpayers up to $400,000. However the media schedule for the campaign appears to be targeting middle Australia rather than asylum seekers.
“The average government campaign is four weeks and will extend over print and digital,” said a senior media buyer. “For just a weekend campaign across the five News Corp metro newspapers you’re looking at at least $200,000, the ads in Fairfax will be another $120,000. So at least $320,000 in just two days.”
“Once you go regional and radio it becomes a lot more murky but the general rule is you add 25-30 per cent on top of what you spent on metros, so at least another $100,000.”
I understand the commentary and I understand that it is easy to believe the advertising is politically motivated, but I don’t think there is any point to Nick Xenophon making a formal complaint.
The ALP would argue there are many avenues for the information to reach potential asylum seekers and this strategy is the first part of a wider reaching strategy.
Of course there is political gain from the advertising but ANY policy on a hot topic will gain a political advantage. You can’t stop advertising because of positive knock on effects and you’ll never be able to prove that political advantage was the primary intent.
Since when are Iranians fleeing persecution and death? Getaway did a travelling special on Tehran recently!
Asylum seekers and their travel agents regard ethnic and country-specific advertising as PR and dismiss it. In fact, they view it as evidence that Australia is weak.
They make their plans based on the attitudes and plans in Australia, including the political environment. That is why the advertising is perfectly appropriate.
The ads scared me to death. I was not game to catch the Manly ferry to work this morning in case I ended up in Papua New Guinea.
Great expose article, well done Mumbrella. This is a disgrace. Millions of taxpayers dollars spent to sell a hypocritical, brutal policy to buy votes from racist people. Shame Rudd, shame Labor.
@ Daniel… Too bloody right, mate! The SMH travel section called Iran the friendliest place on the earth just a couple of weeks ago!!!! As for the Sri Lankans, Lonely Planet called it the hottest travel spot on the world and is fast becoming Australians “place du jour” to travel to. Utter nonsense and we’re all being had a lend of by these shonks. Look at most of these “asylum seekers” – they’re obese! They’re hardly escaping famine that’s for sure.
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/t.....2o116.html
KR= Kevin Rudd= King Richard. He is behaving in the vein of Richard of Gloucester.
Every motivation is a political one, every action is to build his image and perceived credibility.
He plays with the Australian people as if he were at a chess table or directing a puppet theatre.
He has, like Richard of Gloucester, pulled together his supporters, routed his perceived enemies, changed the rules to secure his throne and is now waving smoke and mirrors to create a vision of the world that suits his description of it.
Bread and Circuses? You bet your life. He has started referring to the office of PM as the “high office” of PM and has claimed that the people will get the Prime minister they voted for, which is absolutely untrue.
It has always been untrue in Australia and anywhere else that the Westminster style of government operates. We vote for a local member to represent us in Government and the party elects the PM or “first among equals” to lead the party in office.
The highest office, is the office of Governor General, who stands in place of the head of state.
Rudd is only a local constituent who has been elected by some of the people and has been given the post of PM by a few party members (independent of the people) and has now closed the door on that process to guarantee his seat on the throne of first among equals.
Awake Australians, see the Emperor and his lack of clothes.
Sadly perhaps, but this is not a Republic and we do not vote for a President who is also the head of state. We do vote for a local member of parliament to (supposedly) represent our local community.
Nice try Richard (Moss) but I’m afraid the mechanics barely reflect the majority of voters and their capability to identify any policy of their local members. They just turn up to the local school when the News tells them to, they look for the Party Logo, vote for what ever name is next to it, have a sausage and go home.
If that wasn’t the case then Rudd wouldn’t be in the MPs chair.
From Amnesty International.
The facts are simple:
Asylum seekers are not ‘illegal’ – it is a human right to seek asylum by boat in Australia (UN Refugee Convention and Australian Migration Act 1958)
Asylum seekers arriving by boat make up less than 3% of Australia’s annual immigration
The majority of asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat are found to be genuine refugees fleeing persecution, torture and violence.
Now, back to your Chardonnay and line caught snapper
I meant PMs chair. Silly phone autocorrect got me. 😉
These facts are simple: Australia has every legal right to protect its borders and set the number of “refugees” it takes per year. Now back to my chardonnay and line-caught snapper…
Another suspected 100 drowned today. Camps in flames. Claims of rape and torture at refugee camps (and refugee advocates wanting these people released into the community for god’s sakes.) This is Australia in 2013? Bloody hell! It’s a total, unfathomable disaster on an epic scale…