The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to urgently roll out the funding it promised to support regional print media, after a raft of publications were forced to close.
From next month, the Upper Hunter Electorate will lose the printed editions of the Dungog Chronicle and Gloucester Advocate, in both cases after more than 100 years of service to their communities, as Australian Community Media makes the mastheads website-only publications.
At a parliamentary hearing yesterday, Nationals Upper House MP Sarah Mitchell quizzed the Premier on his commitment to deliver an additional $3 million in government advertising, which he made in the lead up to the 2023 NSW Election.
Ms Mitchell asked Chris Minns what action he would take following redundancies that came after his failure to spend the money he said he would.
The Premier described the question as a "glib recitation” of the situation, but just hours later eight additional newspapers announced they would cease printing.
Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell said the news which will impact Dungog and Gloucester’s local media outlets was ‘gut-wrenching.’
“I was bitterly disappointed to hear the Premier’s lacklustre response to serious questions about this issue that will cost our community vital assets,” Mr Layzell said.
“The Gloucester Advocate circa 1905 and Dungog Chronicle circa 1888 have been crucial sources of information for our residents for more than century and now we will miss out because the Minns Labor Government didn’t follow through on its promise.
“The Premier needs to do the right thing and stump up the funding before more mastheads shut shop and more people lose their livelihoods.
“Since my election as an MP in 2021, I have proudly supported both newspapers and was committed to maintaining that backing as one way to communicate with my constituents.”
During the hearing the Premier also admitted he was unaware of how many publications had closed in the past year across regional NSW.
“Under this Labor Premier we’ve seen NSW Government advertising in regional publications drop by 40 per cent in the last 12 months and Chris Minns refused to even acknowledge the enormous impact of that decline,” Ms Mitchell added.
“He also refused to make any sort of commitment to rectify the situation, despite industry pleading for assistance for months and writing to him directly.
“It just goes to show that a Labor promise is just as good as an empty page in the press - absolutely worthless.”
PICTURE CAPTION: Dave Layzell is a proud supporter of the Dungog Chronicle and Gloucester Advocate print editions.
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