Thursday, 10 February 2022

Western Victoria Region

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:40): (1616) My question is for the Minister for Regulatory Reform and concerns the Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2021. Not only are local newspapers a vital source of news in regional Victoria; they are at the heart of community life. Their service has been even more significant during COVID, not just for spreading important information but for keeping people connected. At the same time their revenue has suffered, with many businesses unable to advertise. Craig Wilson, publisher of the Pyrenees Advocate and the Ararat Advocate in my electorate, is a great example of a community-focused news provider. This new government bill will make his life even harder. Councils will no longer have to place public notice classifieds in regional papers. It may then lead to all local government classified advertising migrating to a purpose-built government web platform. My question to the minister is: what will you do to replace this revenue? How do you expect local newspapers to survive?