Senator CONROY (Victoria—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:01): I thank the senator for his question. When we were elected in 2007, this government committed to cleaning up the taxpayer funded spending spree that was the Howard government's system. We have delivered on that commitment. When we were elected, this government was faced with a system that had next to no independent oversight and no integrity. Before Labor introduced the Independent Communications Committee there was simply no scrutiny of government advertising. Labor introduced tough guidelines which governed the content and presentation of campaigns, removed ministers from an active role in campaigns and significantly reduced costs. Advertising is driven by the legitimate need to inform the public about their rights, their entitlements and their obligations, including advertising for: the census campaign; ongoing Defence Force recruiting; health campaigns like Quit Smoking and on obesity and illicit drugs; and the digital switchover. We have increased reporting requirements and, unlike the Howard government, we have set out exactly how much taxpayer money is spent on campaign advertising. Senator Fifield: I rise on a point of order on relevance, Mr President. I have let the minister go for a minute and a half and he has not been in any danger of straying close to the specific question, which was: why has the government defied its own advertising guidelines and why has the government ignored Mr Hawke's advice? Senator Wong: Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I understand that those on the other side might think that the guidelines are irrelevant to a question about advertising, but they clearly are relevant, and the minister is going through an explanation of the guidelines. The PRESIDENT: Order! I do draw the minister's attention to the question. Senator CONROY: Schools and DisabilityCare Australia campaigns have been reviewed by the Independent Communications Committee and certified by the relevant departmental secretaries as being in compliance with the guidelines. Feedback was given by the ICC, as is normal, and it was taken on board. In fact, the Independent Communications Committee has never issued— Senator Fifield: I rise on a point of order, Mr President. Senator Conroy is actually misleading the Senate. The government communications committee did not approve the campaign. The PRESIDENT: Order! That is debating the issue; it is not a point of order. Senator CONROY: Feedback was given by the ICC, as is normal, and it was taken on board. In fact, the Independent Communications Committee has never issued a negative compliance report against a Labor government campaign. (Time expired)