Both sides of state politics in South Australia have committed to backing regional newspapers with regular advertising.

The move follows a pledge by the Malinauskas Labor government to reverse 2019 legislation that allowed state and local government to simply publish information on their own websites. Although this is still awaited, a guarantee to spend a tenth of its advertising spend on regional print has reportedly been honoured.

A Deakin university report said the state government spent $39.7 million on media advertising in 2023/2024, but was unclear about which platforms benefitted.

This week’s announcements – which come ahead of state elections on March 21 – were made separately by premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition leader Ashton Hurn at the Country Press SA Awards on Friday evening. Both pledged to implement a full page of government advertising per week in every regional newspaper across the state.

The bipartisan commitment was welcomed by CPSA president Renee Bennett, who said the outcome was a “major breakthrough” for regional communities. The association had lobbied for a “structured and predictable government communication model that helps ensure regional South Australians continue to receive essential public notices and government messaging through trusted local newspapers, including important information about government decisions, services, health campaigns, emergency messaging and community initiatives.

“This recognises that local newspapers are not simply advertising channels, but a vital community service, keeping people informed, strengthening local connection, and supporting civic participation and democracy at a grassroots level.

“Having both major parties publicly commit to a page a week of essential public notices and government messaging is a significant win for our communities,” she said.

CPSA board member and managing director of SA Today Paul Thomas said the commitments reflected growing recognition of the importance of regional publishers. “To have both the Premier and the Opposition Leader commit to essential public notices and government messaging weekly is a significant and hard won outcome.”

Independent Deakin research examining Victoria’s model had found that weekly public notices and government messaging “provided long term surety to the business model underpinning local news outlets and reinforced their legitimacy as journals of public record in the changing digital era”.

The same research found local newspapers have mostly used revenue from the commitment to retain and recruit journalists.

Among regional editors across South Australia, Luca Cetta, editor of the Eyre Peninsula Advocate and Port Lincoln Times, said the announcements would deliver tangible benefits for regional communities.

“This support helps ensure our communities continue to have a voice through their local newspaper and that we can keep delivering the news that matters most to locals,” he said.

Another editor, Michael Simmons of the Victor Harbor Times, Fleurieu Sun and The Islander, said the bipartisan nature of the commitments was especially important. “These commitments… will assist sustainability in what is currently a very tough market and demonstrate how highly governments value country journalism.”

Country Press Australia has also put forward a similar proposal to the federal government, arguing that it would further strengthen public interest journalism across Australia.

Australia’s Local and Independent News Association holds its annual summit in South Australia from March 25-27.

Pictured: SA Today group staff at the CPSA awards at the Hilton Adelaide