A new bill has the potential to decimate community publishing, by proposing that all state and local government public notices would no longer be required to be published in print media.
Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed called for an amendment to a clause in the Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2021, expressing that it would be harmful to regional newspapers and reduce the availability of information to the public.
Ms Sheed moved an amendment, which was not passed in the Legislative Assembly, although she commended the Liberals, Nationals and other independents for supporting her amendment.
During the debate, Ms Sheed highlighted the importance of the community knowing about government decisions and used local Council’s decision to consider selling the airspace above a city carpark for social housing as an example of something of interest to many in the community.
“The impacts of a few paragraphs in this bill can be devastating, and I am here to say that on behalf of regional communities something absolutely must be done about it.”
“Where newspapers stop reporting on what happens at their local council meetings, people become disengaged.”
“It is often the older, retired people who are really watching for those notices. They are on the ball, they are active community members, and they want to know what is going on, and if they cannot access it in the local newspaper, then how will they?”
