PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:
Nice misleading header. Program handed out $4.9 million in 2009/2010. Advertising will be $6 million for 2010/2011. How could they spend more on advertising when the fiscal year for the program just started? And nowhere in the article does it point out what the program budget will be for 2010/2011
Maybe you and the Sun should wait until the END of the 2010/2011 year before making that judgement call.
I don't think your criticism holds water. The program has already budgeted for 6M in advertising - so they expect to spend more in advertising than they paid out in compensation last year. You really think they'll come in way below budget in advertising? As we know, bureaucrats scramble like mad at the end of the year to spend their budgets because if they don't, their budget is reduced for next year - use it or lose it.
I think it's shameful that the budget for this program is anywhere near what they pay out - why do they need to advertise at all? Victims of crime will be informed that they can apply for compensation by victim services, so the only reason for advertising is to make the govt look good to the average person. To spend more on doing that than actually doing the work of the program makes it just a hollow mockery.