Gillard cuts funds to indigenous kids for SOS ad blitz

After lecturing Australians about the diabolical state of the Budget on Monday, the Prime Minister must rule out spending $50 million on a blatant political advertising blitz promoting school funding changes, said the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne today. “This is an SOS or Save Our Seats campaign by Labor promoting changes only one State has signed up to, changes that haven’t been legislated and without a scrap of detail,” Mr Pyne said. Let’s not forget, the Prime Minister herself said: “I am always worried when the Government takes taxpayers’ money and uses it for its own politics, to try and save its political hide.” (Julia Gillard, Doorstop interview, 20/3/2007) “Now in a stunningly hypocritical move, Ms Gillard has authorised a $50 million blitz lasting three months from Budget Day up until when the election is called,” Mr Pyne said “It couldn’t be a more cynical attempt to promote the Government with taxpayers’ money. “Keep in mind this Government is cutting money from higher education to fund this campaign, it is $50 million that could fund 770 teachers. “In this Budget we understand the Government is cutting the Indigenous Youth Leadership Programme which supports indigenous youth in remote areas to attend schools in the city. “The very worthy Indigenous Youth Leadership programme is worth $54 million over four years. Labor is spending the equivalent of this entire programme in three months. “It is a rank political manoeuvre and an advertising campaign that insults the intelligence of Australians,” Mr Pyne said. 1 May 2013