Advertising and market research
Under section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, Finance is required to disclose payments for advertising and market research (payments over the reportable threshold of $13,000 (GST inclusive).
During 2016–17, Finance’s total reportable expenditure for advertising and market research was $297,927.31 (see Table 19).
Finance also manages whole-of-government campaign and non-campaign advertising contracts, however Finance does not report expenditure under these contracts as the agency responsible for the campaign reports.
Table 19: Advertising and market research expenditure, 2016–17
| Organisation | Purpose | Expenditure ($, GST inclusive) |
| Market research organisations | ||
| Australian Market Research Pty Ltd | Customer survey, analysis services and department activity survey | 157,551.00 |
| Australian Market Research Pty Ltd | Customer survey, analysis services and department activity survey | 27,293.99 |
| Media advertising organisations | ||
| Dentsu Mitchell Media Australia | Advertising for expressions of interest for the Canberra office divestment, recruitment and office relocation advertising. | 113,082.32 |
| Total reportable payments | 297,927.31 | |
Grants
Information on grants awarded by Finance during the period 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 is available on our website. See: Grants awarded by the Department of Finance.
Disability reporting
Since 1994, non-corporate Commonwealth entities have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007–08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service reports and the APS Statistical Bulletin. From 2010–11, entities have no longer been required to report on these functions.
The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been overtaken by the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020, which sets out a 10-year national policy framework to improve the lives of people with disability, promote participation and create a more inclusive society. A high-level, two-yearly report will track progress against each of the six outcome areas of the strategy and present a picture of how people with disability are faring. The first of these progress reports was published in 2014, and can be found on the website of the Department of Social Services.
Information Publication Scheme
Entities subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 are required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme. This requirement is in Part II of the Act and has replaced the former requirement to publish a section 8 statement in an annual report. Each agency must display on its website a plan showing what information it publishes in accordance with the scheme’s requirements. Finance’s plan is available on the webpage Information Publication Scheme.
Members of the public can provide comments on Finance’s information publication plan through the freedom of information coordinator.
