Appendix 3—Advertising and market research

All Australian Government departments and agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 are required to place their advertising though the Central Advertising System (CAS). The Australian Government operates the CAS to consolidate government advertising expenditure and secure optimal media discounts and value-added benefits, and to ensure that Australian Government departments and agencies do not compete against each other for media time and space. More information about the system can be accessed at www.gcu.gov.au.

The cost of the outputs of the department’s Government Communications Unit, which coordinates government communications and manages the CAS, is noted in the performance report for Output 4.4.

Table 12 covers payments (of $1,500 and above) to external consultants engaged by the department to provide advertising and market research services and for the placement of advertising by hma Blaze and Universal McCann, the CAS master media placement agencies.

During 2004–05, the department spent a total of $169,947 on the placement of recruitment and tender advertising through the CAS master media placement agencies and on payments (of less than $1,500) to external consultants engaged by the department to provide advertising and market research services.

ST = select tender.