The ABC announcement of more than 50 journalists to be appointed to report from regional locations across Australia, will see an ABC journalist stationed in Whyalla from next year.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey applauded the decision by the ABC to utilise the revenue from negotiations with Facebook and Google under the News Media bargaining Code to invest in regional journalism.
“The ABC contacts me periodically to discuss their services in Grey and I have long raised the issue of Whyalla and that as the biggest population centre in the electorate, it should have a resident ABC journalist,” he said.
“After all, this is taxpayer funded organisation established to service all of Australia.
“Whyalla is almost unique, in that it is an industrial city in a semi-remote, arid environment adjacent not to farm-lands, but to a small number of pastoral businesses accessing the bulk of their rural supplies from either Port Augusta or the Cowell/Cleve area.
“As such Whyalla has a quite different make-up to other regional centres like Port Pirie and Port Lincoln where the ABC has permanent journalists.
“Having a journalist based in Whyalla will provide greater coverage of stories relevant to the area. It is also important to note that the extra resources were a dividend for the Government standing up to the tech giants and receiving a fairer deal for Australian media.
“The rural arm of the ABC is incredibly important to regional Australia to deliver current, relevant news and this move will bring a greater focus to Whyalla, one of SA’s great economic drivers and ensure it receives the attention it deserves.
“I thank the ABC for making this commitment.”
