Vote 1 Local Jobs on Facebook - www.facebook.com/vote1localjobs/

Vote 1 Local Jobs on Facebook – www.facebook.com/vote1localjobs/

POLITICAL ADVERTISING BUDGETS NEED TO BE REDUCED AND FUNDS PUT INTO EDUCATION

POLITICAL advertising budgets need to be slashed and the funds instead injected into the rural post-secondary education sector, says Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell.

Mr Purcell said hundreds of millions of dollars were spent annually on promoting government projects – irrespective of which government is in power.

“Obviously community engagement is vital, but with the incredible rise in social media promotion the need for expensive TV advertising is significantly reduced,” Mr Purcell said.

“Significantly reducing these budgets and other waste and duplication would free up substantial funds. This money could then be spent on our rural education sector.”

Mr Purcell said more innovative communication methods had the potential to save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars per year.

“We are running our Vote 1 Local Jobs campaign on a shoestring budget and have made a minimal financial investment in social media. Our message is being distributed far and wide – without the multi-million dollar budgets the major parties have.

“Social media is changing the way we operate and should be embraced as a cost-saving measure by government.”

Vote 1 Local Jobs is Western Victoria’s newest political party. It was created by Moyne Shire Councillor and former Mayor James Purcell. It has been inundated with support and has more than 850 members. Mr Purcell stood at the last state and federal election and was the most successful independent in the south-west region’s history.