During 2017–18, the ABS conducted the following advertising including: non-campaign advertising for the 2016 Census of Population and Housing (Census) and campaign advertising for the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

The Census non-campaign advertising was aimed at promoting the results of the 2016 Census to Australians. The results were released across two main phases in July and October 2017. Further information on the non-campaign advertising expenditure is available at www.tenders.gov.au.

Details of advertising and marketing activity during the period

The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey campaign advertising aimed to give eligible Australian voters, 18 years and over, the opportunity to express their view on whether the Australian marriage laws should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Further information on those advertising campaigns is available at www.abs.gov.au and in the reports on Australian Government advertising prepared by the Department of Finance. Those reports are available on the Department of Finance’s website, at www.finance.gov.au.

Under section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the ABS is required to disclose payments over $13,200 (GST Inclusive) for advertising and market research in the annual report.

During 2017–18, the ABS’s total expenditure for advertising and market research over the reporting threshold was $18,592,156 (GST Inclusive) (Table 5.4), the vast majority of which was expended on advertising for the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey.

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Table 5.4 Advertising and market research payments over $13,200 in 2017–18