Monday 24 November 2025

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Dr Anne Webster has described tonight’s (Monday's) return of WIN television news bulletins for Sunraysia and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation District as triumphs for advocacy and persistence.

Dr Webster recently visited the WIN newsroom and news team led by newsreader Bruce Roberts to join the excitement about the bulletin resuming this Monday at 5:30pm – 6pm.

“I am so grateful that WIN have made the courageous call in a tough media market to resume a TV bulletin from 5:30pm weekdays for residents of Mildura, Griffith and surrounding regions,” Dr Webster said.

“As Member for Mallee, I’ve spoken countless times with WIN management about bringing local news back to Sunraysia because when we do not see our local stories we beginto feel invisible to ourselves, let alone the nation. We do not have a single TV news journalist or service within Mallee, that’s over one-third of Victoria’s land mass.

“It is incredibly important that local stories are told locally. I remember when WIN were local and live and the stories that we could see and engage in and be part of because those stories were being told here.”

“I wrote passionately in August about how vital it is that regional residents are seen and heard in their capital city and beyond, that we see ourselves, our own local stories on our television screens.  I felt this acutely with our unique and distressing cross-border issues during the pandemic and during the last Murray River floods.

“As Australia’s first Shadow Minister for Regional Communications I am thrilled to see the Coalition’s focus and advocacy for regional people is already delivering results.”

WIN’s first Sunraysia and Griffith news services at 5:30pm Monday 24 November coincides with WIN increasing local news content across in South Australia's Riverland and Mount Gambier, plus more news content in Western Australia.

“I encourage regional Australians to tune in to their local TV news bulletin and please send your local news tips in to WIN.”

Dr Webster said additional reporting and competition in the area would only strengthen coverage and quality journalism in Sunraysia and Murrumbidgee regions.

In June-July then newly appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Dr Webster, worked with Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh to encourage WIN to keep Seven on the air in affected regions.

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Pictured: Dr Webster (right) with WIN newsreader Bruce Roberts (left)

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