Government cuts PR and ACMA budgets but boosts online safety

May 14, 2014 10:45

The Federal Government has announced it plans to slash $43.3m from its public affairs and internal communications budget as part of its attempts to cut public spending.

Last night’s budget announced that the government would work to save money by “moving to more efficient practices for public affairs and internal communications within Australian Government agencies”, which will likely mean a hiring freeze for communications roles as the government seeks to cut 16,500 public servants over three years.

The budget papers do not specify how it would achieve these cuts beyond saying they “will contribute to streamlining the public sector and reducing staffing.”

The Government also announced cuts of $3.3m over four years to the media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), while allocating $10m to online safety, including $2.4m to the controversial Office of Children’s e‑Safety Commissioner.

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Nic Christensen

Nic Christensen worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2016, in roles including deputy editor and media & technology editor. He is former media writer for The Australian and has also worked as a reporter for The Daily Telegraph and senior producer for Radio 2GB.

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