As readers may have already seen, the cost of the paper on which local news is printed is about to skyrocket, threatening the existence of local papers, including those across the ACM network like this one.

ACM was this week putting the crisis front and centre, petitioning federal parliament for bipartisan emergency support for not only its own 140 newspapers across the country, but the 190 smaller independent papers represented by Country Press Australia as well.

READ ALSO: Publisher warns parliamentary inquiry regional newspapers 'teetering on the edge' without urgent action

Among those already voicing their support is Labor Member for Eden-Monaro Ms McBain who raised the issue at a weekend candidate forum in Bermagui on the NSW Far South Coast.

She also responded directly to ACM on Wednesday, May 4, by highlighting what she claimed was "incompetence and mismanagement" by the Liberal-National government.

"Scott Morrison has been too little, too late with support for public interest journalism despite widespread newsroom closures and the emergence of news deserts around the country," Ms McBain said.

"He failed to properly address a range of recommendations to support regional media, and the number of local government areas without coverage by a single local newspaper has increased from 21 to 31 on his watch."

READ ALSO: Barnaby Joyce says regional media vital, but stops short of committing to emergency funding

Ms McBain said Labor acknowledged the pressure local newspapers were under and had called on the government to act, even during this caretaker period ahead of the May 21 federal election.

She said Labor had written to the Minister to "extend constructive support to formulate a crisis response in accordance with caretaker conventions".

"Labor will otherwise work with the news publishing sector to ensure an incoming Albanese Labor government is ready to activate a crisis response before it's too late," she added.

"The issue of rising print costs didn't arise overnight yet communities across regional Australia now stand to lose their local paper as a result of incompetence, delay and mismanagement under the Liberal National government.

READ ALSO: Why we're asking for emergency support

"If the Liberal National government had done its job properly, to support local media with sustainable measures, the sector would have been on a more sustainable footing to absorb this price increase instead of having to work on a crisis package.

"Our community relies on the Bega District News, Merimbula News Weekly, Narooma News and the Eden Magnet for news, events and information that is relevant to our lives, not to mention local jobs.

"Local newspapers are the lifeblood of our regional communities, especially in Eden-Monaro. From community events and issues, to births, deaths and marriages, and local council, they are vital to keeping our local communities well connected and informed.

"We need to ensure these services are properly supported and maintained well into the future to keep regional Australians in touch with their communities."

The ACM network of 140 newspapers includes 14 daily titles such as The Canberra Times and Newcastle Herald. The company employs more than 1300 people around the country, including 600 journalists.

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