I covered my first Federal Budget as a reporter tonight. Other papers I’ve worked at always had press deadlines that were too early.
My coverage was still limited by time however, also isolation.
Major newspapers are able to send reporters to Canberra where they go into a “lockup” at 4pm.
That gives them restricted access to the budget papers and media statements until the Treasurer’s speech.
They can start writing articles and they can file immediately after the speech at 7.30pm EST.
I read this week that Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd wants the lockup relaxed so reporters can read the budget papers in their own towns, and I agree.
As it was, I had to listen to the speech at 7pm CST and wait until 7.30pm before I could start reading budget papers online and ministerial statements.
And why shouldn’t bloggers have embargoed access to the budget papers as well?
Apparently the original intent of the lockup was to prevent early information spooking the financial markets. They close at 4pm anyway.
Much of the budget is leaked in advance, of course.
Raising the qualifying age for the age pension to 67 from 2023 was a shock and I’m not happy about that for purely selfish reasons.
As for paid parental leave, it isn’t as good as it sounds. Recipients will only be paid the minimum wage for 18 weeks.
They will also lose the baby bonus and family tax assistance.
By my quick, unchecked calculations they will receive about $10,000 and surrender about $7500. If a mother has twins she’ll be better off taking the baby bonus instead.
As for my news lead, I plucked out something I thought has local relevance.
The government plans to establish a new agency called Renewables Australia and invest more in alternative energy.
This region is a national leader in renewable energy, with wind farms and a geothermal plant already operating and plans under way to build a wave power facility.
These articles might be of interest:
