Federal MPs urge WIN to reverse NBN News cuts and protect local jobs

2 June 2026

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newy.com.au – Four federal MPs from the Hunter region have called on WIN Network to reverse planned cuts to NBN News and protect local jobs, after the company confirmed local weekend bulletins would end and weeknight local news would be reduced to 30 minutes.

Shortland minister Pat Conroy, Hunter MP Dan Repacholi, Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson have urged WIN to reconsider the changes, warning communities across the Hunter and Central Coast will lose a significant part of their local television news coverage.

WIN Corporation announced on Tuesday 2 June that, from Saturday 27 June 2026, NBN’s weekend news services would transition to Nine News at 6pm, providing national and international coverage on Saturday and Sunday evenings. From Monday 29 June 2026, NBN’s local weeknight bulletins will start at 5.30pm and run before Nine News at 6pm.

WIN said the new schedule would deliver “an extended 90 minutes of local, national and international news coverage each weeknight” and reflected its long-term commitment to regional journalism after completing its acquisition of NBN Television from Nine Entertainment.

WIN Network chief executive Andrew Lancaster said the changes represented an important investment in local news delivery. “Regional communities value strong local journalism and local storytelling, and that remains central to our strategy for NBN,” Mr Lancaster said.

“The changes to our weeknight bulletins are designed to deliver more local content, more local stories and a stronger connection to the communities we serve across Northern New South Wales”.

The four federal representatives said the practical result would be the loss of the long-running one-hour local bulletin on weeknights and the scrapping of local weekend television news, with remaining content sourced from Sydney. They said local stories affecting Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland and the Central Coast communities could not simply be replaced by programming produced hundreds of kilometres away.

Mr Conroy, the Member for Shortland, said NBN had been central to the region’s public life for generations, particularly during emergencies and major community events.

“This is a kick in guts for people across the Hunter and Central Coast. From the 1989 Newcastle earthquake to the Knights’ first grand final win, the huge storms that saw the Pasha Bulker run aground or more recently the landslides in New Lambton, NBN has been a strong local voice and a crucial source of information for local communities,” he said.

“It’s simply not acceptable that the people across our region will no longer have a weekend news bulletin and will only get half a bulletin during the week. Our thoughts are also with the hardworking newsroom staff at NBN who have stood up for their local communities, but who now face an uncertain future. They deserve better and our region deserves better.”

Mr Repacholi said Hunter communities deserved local stories reported by local journalists.

“This is a dog act by WIN,” he said.

“Local news is a vital service and Hunter communities deserve local stories told by local journalists, not a feed from Sydney.

“WIN promised a future for regional journalism and instead, they’re cutting local news, axing weekend bulletins and putting local jobs at risk.

“You cannot claim to back regional communities while stripping away the very news service those communities rely on, and WIN must reverse these cuts.”

Ms Claydon said NBN News had been broadcasting from Newcastle for more than 64 years and had helped keep the community informed and connected.

“Local stories and local content help ensure that our unique community voice is heard. NBN News has been broadcasting out of Newcastle for over 64 years, keeping our community safe, informed and connected,” she said.

“Newcastle is the largest regional city in NSW, and Novocastrians deserve news and content delivered from the heart of our community.”

Ms Swanson said the decision raised broader concerns about the future of regional media and opportunities for local media workers.

“The Hunter is the second-largest population centre in New South Wales outside of Sydney, and it is vitally important that our communities continue to have strong, dedicated local media representation,” she said.

“On a personal level, this news is heartbreaking. My first job in media was at NBN in Newcastle, and I know firsthand the opportunities that local television provides for young journalists, camera operators, producers and media professionals starting their careers.”

The MPs said journalists, camera operators, producers, editors and support staff had helped build NBN News into one of Australia’s most recognised regional news services, and called on WIN to retain local staff and restore the local news coverage being cut from the schedule.

Newcastle State MP Tim Crakanthorp said “NBN employs many great local journalists whose jobs are now on the line. This is a dreadful Sydney-centric decision by the WIN Network.”