PR AGENCIES have defended their line of work in the wake of Treasury and Resources deciding that perhaps it did not need a director of communications.

It was announced last week that the department had decided not to replace James Falla, who steps down from his position next month, because it was confident it could handle the workload and was looking to cut expenditure.

That decision has raised questions about the use of PR in politics and whether other departments including Health and Social Services and Public Services should follow suit and allow deputies to face the media in a more direct fashion.

But Orchard PR managing director Steve Falla (pictured) said it was not that simple. ‘Politicians are not elected solely for their communication skills. There are times when their departmental objectives may shape their response rather than their own personal beliefs, personalities or values, so it may make sense for them to take advice on how to respond for the department.’

He added that he did not know of any local politician who used a PR professional to represent them in a personal sense.