Australian Government Invests Over $180 Million to Support Local News

A man reads a local newspaper while sitting on roadside seating on South Terrace in Fremantle, Australia, on March 26, 2020. Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Albanese government has announced an investment of $180.5 million (US$115 million) to support local news and community broadcasting in Australia.

This includes launching the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) and additional funding for the community broadcasting sector.

The government will allocate $153.5 million over four years to implement the News MAP.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said local news plays a vital role in shaping Australian communities and supporting media diversity.

“Informed by extensive public and industry-wide consultation, the News MAP builds on the Albanese government’s support for a strong, diverse, and independent media sector with a new policy framework and range of new measures to support news and public interest journalism,” Rowland said.

Key Areas for Investment and Support

The government claims the News MAP will focus on supporting public interest journalism and ensuring the sustainability of local news outlets.

It includes establishing an expert advisory panel to guide strategies to promote media sustainability and attract philanthropic support.

Additionally, $33 million will be provided over three years to support the Australian Associated Press (AAP) newswire service.

The program also includes $116.7 million over four years to enhance the capacity of news organisations to deliver essential public interest journalism.

This funding will support the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts, with a portion dedicated to program delivery.

Furthermore, $3.8 million will be allocated over three years to develop Australia’s first National Media Literacy Strategy, aimed at helping Australians critically engage with news and media.

Starting in 2025-26, a minimum of $3 million per year will be allocated for regional newspaper advertising as part of the Commonwealth’s media advertising spend.

This investment is in addition to the $15 million already allocated for the News Media Relief Program in 2024-25 to provide immediate support to regional, independent, suburban, multicultural, and Indigenous news publishers.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, praised the significance of Indigenous media in Australia’s media landscape.

“First Nations journalists, broadcasters, and media are a vital part of Australia’s media landscape. They help connect, represent, and tell the stories of our communities across the country. The Albanese government’s $12 million investment recognises and supports their important work,” McCarthy said.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has also received $10.5 million for implementing the Media Diversity Measurement Framework.

Support for Community Broadcasting and Indigenous Media

The Albanese government will also invest an additional $27 million to support Australia’s community broadcasting sector. This will be directed to the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) and the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IBMP).

Through the CBP, $15 million will be provided over three years to support community broadcasters, including $3 million specifically for community television.

The IBMP will receive $12 million to assist Indigenous broadcasting and media outlets.

Independent Publishers Support Funding

The Local & Independent News Association (LINA) represents independent digital news publishers and has welcomed the government’s funding initiative.

LINA has called for continued investment in 2024-25 and beyond to support the full implementation of the News MAP. The association also advocates for utilising the growing network of local digital news publishers to address the closure of newsrooms across Australia and promote media diversity.

“News MAP sets out a framework to guide government intervention to support public interest journalism and media diversity in Australia—recognising these are critical to a healthy democracy, social cohesion, and informed citizens,” said LINA representatives.