Coalition makes formal complaint over pro-teal spin in ‘fake newspaper’

This masthead is not suggesting the Climate 200 crowdfunding vehicle is controlling Gazette’s coverage, only that its major donors are behind the outlet and that it has not reported that its funders are also big backers of the teal movement.

Saulwick, a former campaign manager for GetUp and Change.org, rejected Hume’s claims about Gazette News, saying the outlets, which also report on other topics such as restaurants and music, were committed to “free, high-quality local journalism to communities where local news has declined or disappeared”.

The outlet writes some stories that quote candidates from major parties.

“As stated clearly on our website, Gazette does not affiliate with nor accept funding from political candidates or organisations including [Climate 200].”

“Like many philanthropists who support public interest journalism, our seed funders believe in the importance of strong local news – particularly in covering issues that impact communities, such as the environment.”

In relation to Gazette’s paid advertising that Facebook has classed as marketing that could influence elections, Saulwick said: “In some places we mark those ads as ‘issue advertising’ because we’re a new organisation, and Meta has a three-month delay before categorising new accounts as news outlets.”

The outlet focuses much of its political coverage on Climate 200-backed independents, without mentioning the candidates are backed by Simon Holmes a Court’s funding vehicle.

“Independent candidate Deb Leonard goes door-to-door in Inverloch,” one reporter writes in the Gazette’s Gippsland Monitor, dated March 3.

In an Instagram post on the page of Gazette’s West Vic Brolga on March 3, a journalist asks: “What are you doing tonight? If you’re in or around Warrnambool, you might want to pop into Deakin Uni to catch the Independent candidate making a play for Wannon, Alex Dyson, in conversation with former rugby legend and current ACT Independent senator David Pocock.”

The posts and articles have been shared by teal candidates including Bradfield’s Nicolette Boele, who in February posted a North Shore Lorikeet article covering her launch event, titled: “Independent Nicolette Boele says the major parties have failed Bradfield.”

Rawson, one of Gazette’s funders, donated $20,000 to Boele’s campaign at the last election and in December 2023 donated his renewable-diesel-powered yacht, named Belle, to Boele for an event. Boele’s office said she was unaware of the link between Rawson and the North Shore Lorikeet.

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The Coalition is running a negative campaign to unseat independents, including a “Teals Revealed” website that independent MPs have claimed is filled with misinformation.

A spokesman for Climate 200 did not respond directly to questions about Climate 200’s association with Gazette, except to say, “Climate 200 is not connected to Gazette”.

“Climate 200 has tens of thousands of generous donors. Who they choose to support or how they invest is up to them,” the spokesman said.

Holmes a Court, in a speech to be delivered at the National Press Club on Wednesday, said the community independent movement was still growing as candidates aligned with Climate 200 contest about 30 seats. Holmes a Court provides only a fraction of Climate 200’s millions in donations.

“Climate 200 does not start campaigns. Climate 200 does not run campaigns. Climate 200 does not target seats or select candidates,” he will say, according to an advance copy of the speech.

“Climate 200 simply recognised this profound shift in our democracy and sought to provide the resources and support needed to help communities and their independent candidates succeed.”

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