Government needs to engage regional media in COVID messaging: MPs

State parliamentarians from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party have criticised the NSW government for its lack of engagement with regional media in COVID messaging.

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, who represents Narrabri Shire, and Member of the Legislative Council, Mark Banasiak, have said regional areas are missing out on vital health information as the government excluded regional newspapers, including The Courier, from its COVID
communications.

The party has demanded that the government commit to full-page advertisements in regional publications to ensure people who have limited internet availability, as well as those who don’t use social media, can access accurate, up-to-date and reliable information.

“Rural and regional newspapers remain the most trusted media source for communities in our regions, and as such, they must be supported by government and included in all marketing campaigns,” Mr Butler said.

“It’s the same for consultation with regional NSW communities. They just don’t know how to do it successfully.

“Vital health information is not being communicated to our regions because government has ceased to include small regional and rural newspapers in their marketing campaigns and would rather spend their money with Facebook to get their message out.”

Mr Banasiak said it was unforgivable that the government failed to engage regional media to assist in communicating the lockdown.

“I have many people in regional NSW who rely on local papers or listen to local radio,” he said.

“Again, it demonstrates a lack of understanding of regional NSW.

“Many people in regional NSW have limited or no access to the internet. Many wouldn’t know what Twitter is.”