NSW Premier Chris Minns addresses election promise on regional and community media
NSW Premier Chris Minns addresses his election promise to ensure the longevity of regional and community media and missed capital in promised expenditure.
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00:00It hasn't been given to you now, it was sent to you in March.
00:02Order, order, order.
00:04Mr Chair, I think that's interesting that you just said that.
00:06I'd like to ask what are you going to do?
00:08The letter is tabled Premier.
00:10No, no and I'm going to read from it.
00:12Premier, are you aware that since you came to office
00:14more than 10 regional publications have shut down in New South Wales?
00:18I didn't know the number was 10 but I knew that there had been several that had shut down.
00:23Are you aware that in September last year there was a media release from your government
00:28stating that you're going to deliver on your election commitment
00:30to ensure the longevity of regional media
00:32in your first budget delivering a $3 million commitment
00:35devoted to advertising spend in regional and community print outlets?
00:38Do you remember that announcement?
00:40Yes.
00:42Are you aware of a letter that you received in March this year,
00:45a joint letter from the Managing Director of the Australian Community Media
00:48and the President of the Country Press?
00:50No, I'm not aware specifically of that letter.
00:53I've got a copy here so I'd be very happy to table it
00:56and provide it to you to have a look at.
00:58As I said, Premier, it was sent some months ago back in March
01:01and I'll just wait for you to get the document.
01:04But you'll see in the highlighted part,
01:07in the letter that is addressed to you dated 7 March this year,
01:11whilst the $1 million of incremental New South Wales government advertising spend
01:15that was part of your government's election commitment was welcomed,
01:18sadly this promised expenditure has not occurred.
01:21In fact, New South Wales government advertising spend in regional newspapers
01:26has fallen by over 40% in the last 12 months.
01:29Premier, why haven't you honoured your election commitment?
01:32My understanding was that we had honoured the election commitment
01:35in relation to the increase in expenditure for regional publications,
01:39but the net amount that's spent in regional newspapers
01:43across government agencies has dropped.
01:46Well, that's at least what was presented to me by the ACM
01:49and the regional editors.
01:52Hang on, I'm going to complete my answer.
01:55So I did have a discussion with them about the government's commitment
02:00and not just the government's commitment in relation to that fund
02:05specifically for regional outlets and there was a similar fund
02:08that was in place for ethnic media and other newspapers and media in the state,
02:14but also in relation to other government agencies.
02:17The big spender for regional communities from the government
02:22particularly for newspapers is roads and road safety campaigns and programs.
02:27In any event, I agreed to meet them.
02:30They wrote to you in March.
02:32You said you bumped into them at AgQuip last week.
02:35We've had at least 10 and possibly more regional newspapers go under.
02:39They're saying under your government the advertising spend is down 40%
02:43in the last 12 months.
02:45That means people are losing their jobs.
02:47That means regional people who rely on those newspapers for access
02:50to information are missing out because you haven't spent the money
02:53that you said you would in terms of advertising spend.
02:55So what are you going to do about it?
02:57Yeah, no, I think that's a glib recitation of the circumstances
03:00relating to the economics of newspapers.
03:02It's nothing glib about it.
03:04I'm going to answer the question that you put to me.
03:06And the reason is, and the major reason is because you've neglected
03:09to point out the sharing agreement, the fund sharing agreement
03:12from major social media firms in the country.
03:15There was a pool of funds that was distributed.
03:19My understanding is it continues to be distributed by Google,
03:22but Meta withdrew from the application.
03:25And that's affecting print media, broadcast media,
03:28regional media right across the country.
03:30It's particularly the case in disaggregated populations
03:33like in New South Wales and is the leading pressure,
03:36the massive pressure that we're seeing when it comes
03:40to regional newspapers.
03:42So can I...
03:43No, sorry.
03:44I'd like to...
03:45I want to take issue with the last bit of your question,
03:48the drop in New South Wales government spending,
03:51which you articulated is the reason for these newspapers going out.
03:55I just think it's important for the committee to understand
03:58that there are a lot of economic forces in relation to media businesses.
04:01Perhaps you're not aware of them.
04:03I don't need to be lectured by you in relation to what happens
04:06to regional newspapers with respect, Premier.
04:08I know many of the people who own and operate and work in these papers,
04:12and they've made it very clear that that lack of government
04:15advertising spend and the lack of the rollout of your election
04:18commitment is placing huge financial pressures on us.
04:20But perhaps you didn't read the second paragraph of the letter that you gave me.
04:23You are going to meet with them next week.
04:25What will you do?
04:26Well, Mr Chair, I think that's interesting that you just said that.
04:28I'd like to ask what are you going to do.
04:30The letter is table, Premier.
04:31I know, and I'm going to read from it.
04:33Just answer the question.
04:34Point of order.
04:35Mr Chair, surely I'm entitled to refer you to the document...
04:37No, you're not.
04:38Point of order has been taken by Mr Nanver.
04:40Mr Nanver, you're on point of order.
04:43The opposition may not like the answer that's been given,
04:46but the answer is relevant to the question that was asked,
04:48and I just ask that the courtesy be extended to the Premier.
04:51I'm ruling, Mr...
04:53I'm here for four hours.
04:55Premier, the question was, what are you going to do?
04:58No.
04:59I was listening...
05:00No, no, no.
05:01The question from Mrs Mitchell to you was, what were you going to do?
05:04Are you going to meet with these people?
05:06Or you are going to meet with these people?
05:08Sorry.
05:09And I think you were responding to that.
05:11No, Mr Chair, the question was,
05:14as a result of the government's supposed reduction
05:18in spending for regional press, people are losing their jobs.
05:21And I'm just pointing, and I think this is reasonable,
05:24if it's not, I think it's grossly unfair,
05:26that I refer to the table document
05:28supplied by the Honourable Member in the second paragraph,
05:31and I'll read it to the committee.
05:33This has just been given to me now.
05:35I don't need you to do that.
05:37It hasn't been given to you now.
05:40Order.
05:41The Premier can respond to the question the way he sees fit.
05:44He is being relevant to the questions you have asked.
05:47Please proceed.
05:48The widely reported decision this week
05:51by Facebook parent company Metta
05:53to discontinue funding to regional media
05:56as compensation for using our locally generated news content
06:00will have an immediate and devastating effect.
06:03It removes a critical income stream
06:06that had been widely expected to continue
06:09for at least another three years.
06:11And they also very clearly in the letter, Premier,
06:14country people will listen to this.
06:16They very clearly in the letter articulate
06:19the lack of investment from your government.
06:21You can't hide from this, Premier.
06:23Particularly if you're going to ask questions
06:25about regional economies or the businesses,
06:28it shouldn't be the case that you cherry-pick information.
06:31And in fact, the second...
06:33Look, this just goes to the point here.
06:35That you know nothing about regional New South Wales
06:39because that's pretty evident.
06:40Order!
06:41You've got your abuse out of the way.
06:43Order!
06:44I'll just say this, Mr Chair.
06:46Please come to order.
06:47Clearly the economics of media,
06:49particularly in regional New South Wales,
06:51particularly when it comes to regional newspapers,
06:53has been significantly affected by social media companies,
06:56particularly Metta's decision
06:58to withdraw that local content fee to regional newspapers.
07:02The same occurs to major publications
07:05in metropolitan Sydneys like Sydney and other places.
07:08As a result of that...
07:09I'm going to finish this because this isn't just hyperbole.
07:12This is absolutely crucial.
07:13I'm asking you about New South Wales government spending.
07:15That's what we're here to do.
07:16Of course the government will meet with regional businesses
07:21and talk about changes to the circumstances.
07:23Six months after they write you.
07:24But I honestly think that you should present
07:26all of the information that's been presented to you.
07:28He got in in three days, but these guys wait six months.
07:31Order!
07:32Order!
07:33Well, you've neglected the second paragraph.
07:35Well, you've neglected the bulk of the letter
07:38and the refusal of six months to meet.
07:40It adds to the suggestion that you're not on the level
07:44about trying to find a solution to this is my only point.
07:47You're the one not on the level.
07:48They wrote to you six months ago and you've ignored it.