MEMBER For MacKillop Nick McBride has voted in parliament to strip The South Eastern Times of vital State Government advertising revenue.
Mr McBride backed a measure in the House of Assembly on Wednesday which will remove the obligation of State Government agencies to advertise certain measures in The South Eastern Times and other country newspapers.
The Bill has been debated by all sides of politics in the past weeks with Independent Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell being a strong advocate for the status quo.
Unlike a number of his fellow rural Liberal MPs, Mr McBride did not participate in the parliamentary debates.
He has defended his stance in a statement.
“The Simplify Bill is designed to cut red tape,” Mr McBride said.
“The aim of the provisions with regard to the advertising of public notices are intended to bring more flexibility to advertising requirements.
“I recognise the importance of local papers as a primary point of reference for news in regional South Australia.
“Our State Government has committed to continue to advertise in regional newspapers and I look forward to the delivery of this undertaking.”
The Statutes Amendment and Repeal (Simplify) Bill changes the rules for State Government advertising, removing the requirement for public notices to be placed in the local newspaper and instead allow them to be placed on a State Government website.
Shadow Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the Labor Party attempted to amend the bill to guarantee the ongoing requirement for State Government advertising in regional newspapers.
Mr Mullighan said Mr McBride was one of nine rural Liberal MPs to support the Bill.
“Newspapers are a vital part of the fabric of local communities,” Mr Mullighan said.
“This cut to State Government advertising will cut a significant revenue source local newspapers rely on, meaning they’ll have less money to invest in local news.
“More importantly, it robs local communities of information which is vital to them, delivered in a way they can easily access.
“How many people are likely to regularly check departmental websites?
“Far more are likely to pick up their local newspaper.
“This is simply cruel penny-pinching from the Marshall Liberal Government which will hurt local newspapers and more importantly hurt local communities.”
