Local Newspapers' Mixed Coverage of 'Reform' Collapse

Coverage in local newspapers across the affected parts of the metropolitan area was very mixed.

The Southern Gazette made it front page news that South Perth had been saved from oblivion and others made the issue in various forms front page. But the Fremantle Gazette and the Melville Times barely mentioned the results of the polls, one of which directly affected their distribution areas of Fremantle and East Fremantle and the City of Melville, but did report comments to the effect that the process was a shamble.

Mind you, the Fremantle Herald adopted much the same approach, focussing on suggestions that the Premier's pain could be short-lived if he walked away from his so-called reform.

The Subiaco Post, as it has consistently done throughout the whole process, gave lots of space to its own reports and to letters from readers. One of those letters was an open letter to Bill Marmion, MLA for Nedlands (includes Subiaco), asking why he hadn't defended Subiaco elector's right to a poll.

Comment News and Midland-Kalamunda reporter celebrated the flow-on for Kalamunda and Serpentine-Jarrahdale from the polls through the likely rescinding of the Governor's Orders that were gazetted on Christmas Eve.

Across the board, there was reporting of Councils preparing to seek reimbursement of costs from the state government.

The only report of continuing support for amalgamations came from the City of Bayswater, reported in the Eastern Reporter.

Illustrative but incomplete (and not necessarily representative) examples of coverage below.

Southern Gazette. Click to enlarge

Southern Gazette. Click to enlarge

Southern Gazette. Click to enlarge

Southern Gazette. Click to enlarge

Kalamunda reporter. Click to enlarge

Kwinana Courier. Click to enlarge

Southern Gazette. Click to enlarge

Subiaco Post. Click to enlarge

Subiaco Post. Click to enlarge

Subiaco Post. Click to enlar

Subiaco Post. Click to enlarge

Subiaco Post. Click to enlarge