A powerful speech delivered in Canberra by the Member for Monash Mary Aldred has reinforced the depth of community and bipartisan political support for strong regional news services. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Ms Aldred called for the urgent implementation of the federal government’s News Media Assistance Program (NewsMAP) and the proposed News Bargaining Incentive. Ms Aldred highlighted the vital role of regional newspapers in keeping communities informed, connected and represented, describing local papers as “the threads that hold communities together”. Country Press Australia (CPA) president Damian Morgan said Ms Aldred’s words reflect what every regional community already knows - and demonstrate that the future of regional journalism is an issue that unites both sides of politics. “Mary Aldred is absolutely right - local newspapers are the lifeblood of their communities," Mr Morgan said. "We share the triumphs and tragedies, we celebrate volunteers, and we tell the stories that connect people to one another. "It is encouraging to see both government and opposition recognising this and backing regional journalism." Mr Morgan said CPA was particularly appreciative of the federal government’s announcement of NewsMAP and its commitment to allocate funds directly to support public interest journalism in regional communities. He said NewsMAP is a very significant initiative. "For the first time, the federal government has created a structured framework that recognises the unique challenges of regional and local publishers and commits dedicated funding to help sustain them," he said. "With bipartisan voices now reinforcing the need for action, this is an important and positive step forward,” Mr Morgan said. “We thank the Albanese Government for listening to the concerns of regional publishers and for committing funds under NewsMAP. "This decision sends a clear signal that regional journalism matters and that local communities deserve strong, independent news outlets. "With bipartisan recognition of its importance, we hope to see it rolled out quickly and with certainty.” Mr Morgan stressed, however, that the success of NewsMAP will be measured by how quickly it is implemented. “The framework is there, the commitment is there, and the funds have been announced," he said. "What we need now is for NewsMAP to move from promise to delivery. "Publishers are waiting, communities are waiting, we cannot afford further delays." He also highlighted other pressing challenges, including the withdrawal of Meta from its Australian publisher agreements and the urgent need for the government’s proposed News Bargaining Incentive. “Meta has walked away from regional news deals, leaving a massive hole in local journalism funding," Mr Morgan said. "The government’s proposed News Bargaining Incentive is the right solution, and Mary Aldred’s support shows there is bipartisan recognition of how urgent this reform is. "Consultation must begin and legislation must be progressed quickly. "Regional journalism doesn’t have the luxury of waiting another year or two for Canberra to act.” Mr Morgan also strongly backed Ms Aldred’s warning against weakening copyright protections to benefit global AI companies. “Australia’s copyright laws are world-leading, and any attempt to hand over our content for free to AI companies would be devastating," he remarked. "Regional publishers strongly oppose such changes and journalism must be paid for if it is to survive. "On this, too, we are seeing strong bipartisan agreement." CPA has long argued that fair government advertising allocation, proper industry consultation, and stronger bargaining rules for digital platforms are essential to securing the future of trusted local journalism. “We thank Mary Aldred for using her speech to stand up for regional news and for showing that there is bipartisan resolve on these critical issues," he said. "We also acknowledge the Albanese Government for its positive step in announcing NewsMAP. "Now it’s time to see it rolled out and backed up with the wider reforms regional journalism urgently needs."
