THE backlash against News Ltd’s plans to edit the Mercury interstate could cost the Tasmanian newspaper dearly, says Damon Thomas, a Hobart City Council alderman.
Mr Thomas, who is also the Tasmanian spokesman for the Australian Retailers Association, says the plans to ship editing offshore have the potential to seriously hurt the Mercury’s bottom line.
“Who conducted the risk analysis?” the former Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce chief executive said.
He said strong opposition, as displayed by the public rally at Parliament House lawns last Thursday where 300 vocal protesters vowed to fight News Ltd’s plans, suggested the views of Tasmanians had not been properly considered.
“Any decision such as has been made or is being made to relocate a service should have been supported by a business case which includes both upside and any downside created by the decision,” Mr Thomas said.
“On this issue, given local issues and clearly local peculiarities and nuances, the business case should have been looked at and should have assessed the local opposition to the move, particularly given the paper has a monopoly position to a large extent.
“Perhaps they did do this analysis but if not, or as a result of the clear opposition to what is threatened, there should be an urgent reassessment of the consequences.”
Tasmania’s Economic Development Minister David O’Byrne wrote to News Ltd chief executive John Hartigan last week requesting an urgent meeting in a bid to convince him to abandon plans to send Tasmanian jobs offshore.
In the letter, Mr O’Byrne, who is also Workplace Relations Minister, urged Mr Hartigan to consult directly with Mercury staff.
“You cannot have an authentic Tasmanian voice out of Melbourne, it has to be out of Tasmania,” Mr O’Byrne said.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown last week vowed to raise the issue in the senate.
On Thursday, all but about four Mercury editorial staff members attended an emotional and vocal public rally opposing plans to ship sub-editing offshore. This included all reporters, photographers, the letters editor, night editor, chief sub, chief of staff, nearly all section editors, and all but one copy editor.
The Mercury editor Garry Bailey has in past two weeks visited Melbourne and Adelaide subbing hubs shopping around for the best deal for the Mercury to ship Tasmanian sub-editing jobs offshore.
Mr Bailey has said he will take a range of proposals for approval to News Ltd bosses in Sydney on April 19, and will advise staff about the number of local jobs to be jettisoned soon after.
Mr Bailey said he believed the moves are in the best interests of the newspaper.
How one Uni student saw the rally: HERE
Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The Fly’s extensive and growing archive, HERE
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