COUNTRY newspapers have had a win in the Victorian Parliament this week with the printing of public notices set to stay, after the State Government attempted to remove the requirement for state departments and councils to publicise community notices.
The government’s Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2022 was introduced in the parliament in February, and would have effectively removed an important source of revenue for local newspapers.
Including from the Spectator, the government faced strong opposition from regional newspapers, the Victorian Country Press Association and the opposition.
The printing of public notices in regional newspapers provides a significant stream of income, without which regional media would struggle to survive, in an industry that is already suffering decline with readers turning to online media more and more.
However, according to Lowan MP Emma Kealy, the government attempted to hide reforms and to bury information in “the depths of a yet-to-be-determined government website instead, which would mean a lot of people would no longer be informed”.
“(This) would have removed the requirement to inform communities of intended changes via local newspapers,” she said.
"Strong opposition from country communities, the Victorian Country Press Association and The Nationals has forced the Labor Government to admit that its attempt to hide this public information from Victorians was wrong.”
Many businesses closed during the pandemic, further compounding many regional newspapers’ already paper-thin profits with the loss of critical advertising and printing revenue.
With almost 30 per cent of the nation’s population living in rural and regional areas, the country press represents a vital part of Australian journalism.
It would not only take away a revenue source from regional newspapers but would also diminish council’s connection with the local community.
As previously reported in the Spectator late last year, a survey completed by Deakin University revealed that more than half of people who do not read regional newspapers, still believe they are essential to their local communities.
The Spectator Publishing Group owns and publishes four regional newspapers including the Hamilton Spectator, Casterton News, Portland Observer and Western District Farmer, all critical communications to western district communities.
Publisher and managing director of the Spectator, Richard Beks said that without local government support, there would be a devastating impact on an important revenue source that keeps regional newspapers in circulation.
“In many country communities, Southern Grampians is a good example, the bulk of ratepayers are of an age that seek important public service information from their local paper, not online,” Mr Beks said.
“Recognising that, despite social media inroads, the Spectator still provides more than 50 jobs, (and) SGSC has long been a strong supporter of their local newspaper.
