One of the joys of early morning radio is that there are few advertisements, so you can imagine my consternation when I tuned into 4KQ at 4.30 this morning and was greeted with yet another taxpayer funded ‘Work Choices’ advertisement.
Part of my work requires me to listen to radio talk shows, and watch television current affairs programs, so the occasional 60s and 70s music on KQ is a pleasant change. But another bloody ‘Work Choices’ ad at 4.30 am……..give me a break!
If I have heard or seen the advertising campaign promotion the Federal Government’s IR changes once, I have done so well over a hundred times.
The radio and television stations are hardly complaining – who else but the taxpayer would pay for a spot on radio at 4.30 am?
The Federal Government runs the real risk of incurring a massive voter (taxpayer) backlash as a result of absolute saturation placement of radio, television and print advertising promoting an issue the electorate is deeply suspicious of.
I have been following community trends and attitudes for longer than I care to remember, and I cannot recall a period in which the electorate has been more deeply suspicious and cynical of politicians, and governments, than it is today. All politicians, all governments – state, federal and local.
And that cynicism is enhanced when propaganda is mercilessly shoved down the electorate’s throat at the electorate’s expense!
The ‘Work Choices’ advertising campaign is truly painful. It is annoying, and I have not the slightest doubt that if it continues it will be massively counter-productive.
I broadly monitor caller attitudes on open line radio programs. Last week, the Tin Can Bay dolphin feeding issue attracted the most pronounced, and angry, reaction I have ever come across. That is why Peter Beattie intervened so decisively.
But the feedback on the IR changes is not far behind. The calls have been overwhelmingly negative, and a significant number now express irritation at the saturation advertising campaign they are paying for.
When I last checked a Channel Ten phone in poll last night it was running around 90-10 against the changes.
If the polls are right, and a significant majority of the electorate are either opposed to, or suspicious of, these reforms, then the longer the advertising campaign goes then the more damage it will do.
And it will do damage because much of the advertising is meaningless. It tells you very little – other than to ring a free call number to get a booklet….and I gather the process is not an easy one.
But most of the damage is being done because the electorate does not trust politicians or governments, and, as a consequence, it is suspicious of significant change when the need for it has not been established. Saturation advertising exacerbates the position, it does not improve it.
Other campaigns by federal and state governments, of both political persuasions, have backfired. I suspect this one will backfire very badly indeed.
October 14, 2005 | Jeff Wall
Work choices advertising – stop it please!!!!!
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Ugh, saturation is right. Last night the same ad was on two different tv channels at the same time! In prime time! It is content-free, annoying, and constant. I’m getting to the stage (and we are less than a week into the onslaught) where I am actively changing the channel at the sound of the accompanying muzak.
I doubt this will change many peoples’ minds in favour of the government’s proposals.
Comment by Laurie — October 14, 2005 @ 2:08 pm
Sssh, don’t tell them! Let ’em dig their own grave!
Comment by Lesley de Voil — October 17, 2005 @ 12:40 pm
why does the government need to convince the electorate? there’s no election for another 2yrs, so the only person Johnnie has to convince is Barnaby Joyce, it’s not as if us Aussies will be taking to the streets over this legislation, no matter how worse we’ll be under it. What a waste.
Comment by matt byrne — October 17, 2005 @ 5:10 pm
I think the first round of TV ad’s really say it all with regard to the Work Choices initiative….or don’t rather… instead of letting us know what wonderful things ‘Work Choices’ will give to us…the ad lists 3 or 4 basic rights, and reminds us that we’ll still have them after Work Choices comes in….hah
Comment by an employee about to get royally screwed — October 19, 2005 @ 2:28 pm
NOT REAL HAPPY, JOHN about your saturation advertising to promote your prosposed so called “Work Choices” laws. Destroying what used to be one of the best industrial relations in the work and adopt U.S style confrontationalist industrial ‘thuggery’. Their court mandated contract system widely seen as being one of the worst in the World and responsible for that country having the widest gap between the rich and poor in the western world.
I sure Uncle Sam will be happy with you Little Johney and I’m sure you will get a nice pat on the head next time you meet georgie boy (or dubbya as the yanks like to call him).
NOT REAL HAPPY JOHN WEBSITES
1. PM John Howard ‘crashing through’ Parliament Draconian new anti-terror laws in just 1 day !
http://expage.com/terrorbill
2. Howard Government Taxpayer Funded Propaganda Campaign on Industrial Relations
http://expage.com/howardir
3. What is Happening to Australian Democracy ? New IR Changes highlight concerns
http://expage.com/howardir2
4. Church leaders in Australia worried about Howard Governments Industrial Relations changes
http://expage.com/iraustralia
5. Hillsong Church the ‘New Liberal Party’ at Prayer
http://www.expage.com/hillsong
6. Was John Howard’s Right Faction behind NSW Liberal leader John Brogden’s demise?
http://expage.com/brogden
7. Federal MPs behind right wing push in NSW: Former Federal Liberal Leader Hewson
http://expage.com/brogden1
8. Do Liberal Party MP’s in Australia live in a Moral Vaccuum ?
http://expage.com/brogden2
http://expage.com/brogden3
9. New State Liberal leader Peter Debnam elected in NSW after ‘threats’ on seats
http://expage.com/davidclark
10. NSW State Liberal MLC David Clark. We ask is he really a moderate ?
http://expage.com/davidclark1
11. Arch Conservative Catholic Opus Dei member takes over the NSW Liberal Party
http://www.expage.com/davidclarkmlc
12. The Hilton Bombing (1978) – Why it remains unsolved!
http://expage.com/hiltonbombing
13. Sale of Telstra
Telstra executive says he would not recommend shares to his mother
http://expage.com/telstra1
CEO Sol Trujillo accused in Parliament of deliberately devaluing Telstra shares
http://expage.com/telstra2
Anger in the Bush over National Party Leader Mark Vaile’s Telstra Sell-Out Plan
http://expage.com/telstra
Sol Trujillo : Questions about his suitability to be CEO of Telstra
http://expage.com/newtelstrabosstrujillo
Senator Barnaby Joyce : A Queensland Hero in the making or not??
http://expage.com/barnabyjoyce
14. John Howard signals that the next round of tax cuts are only to be for the rich
http://expage.com/taxcutsfortherich
15. Sydney’s Working Harbour under Grave Threat
http://expage.com/sydneyworkingharbour
16. Education Minister Brendan Nelson Destroying Menzies Legacy: Australia’s Great Universities
http://expage.com/brendannelson
17. Timor Scandal – Spy Chief Kept Timor Intelligence Link Cut
http://expage.com/lancecollins
18. Lt Colonel Collins is to be congratulated for his courage in standing up to the Bureacrats
http://expage.com/lancecollins1
19. With the New ASIO Bill – has Big Brother (1984) now officially arrived in Australia?
http://expage.com/asio3
20. Attorney General Philip Ruddock : Israeli Spy Ring
http://expage.com/ruddock
21. The Spy and the Ministers Daughter
http://expage.com/ruddock1
22. Defence Waste in Australia
http://expage.com/defencewaste
23. Concern Over the Sale of Sydney Airport to MAP
http://expage.com/hochtiefairport01
http://expage.com/hochtiefairport02
24. Greed INXS: The Millionaires Factory – Macquarie Bank
http://expage.com/macquariebank01
ALSO SEE OTHER INDEX’s OF NOT REAL HAPPY, JOHN WEBPAGES
NOT REAL HAPPY, JOHN INDEX 2
http://expage.com/nothappyjohn1
NOT REAL HAPPY, JOHN INDEX 3
http://expage.com/nothappyjohn2
Comment by William Wallace — October 20, 2005 @ 12:38 pm
NOT REAL HAPPY, JOHN about your saturation advertising to promote your prosposed so called “Work Choices” laws. Destroying what used to be one of the best industrial relations in the work and adopt U.S style confrontationalist industrial ‘thuggery’. Their court mandated contract system widely seen as being one of the worst in the World and responsible for that country having the widest gap between the rich and poor in the western world.
I sure Uncle Sam will be happy with you Little Johney and I’m sure you will get a nice pat on the head next time you meet georgie boy (or dubbya as the yanks like to call him).
NOT REAL HAPPY JOHN WEBSITES
1. PM John Howard ‘crashing through’ Parliament Draconian new anti-terror laws in just 1 day !
http://expage.com/terrorbill
2. Howard Government Taxpayer Funded Propaganda Campaign on Industrial Relations
http://expage.com/howardir
3. What is Happening to Australian Democracy ? New IR Changes highlight concerns
http://expage.com/howardir2
4. Church leaders in Australia worried about Howard Governments Industrial Relations changes
http://expage.com/iraustralia
Comment by William Wallace — October 20, 2005 @ 12:38 pm
I don’t have TV but I am so sick of it. Everytime I log into my yahoo mail (I have three different accounts and two are American and even they get the ads – must be IP specific). I get “work choices” advertising on the banner at the top and on the right hand side. I turn on the radio and I get the ads and the pathetic music. I agree, if they actually gave us some information and not just PR lingo, they might be useful, but as they stand they are just “spam”.
Comment by Mel — November 1, 2005 @ 8:22 am