ON Saturday, the Newcastle Herald's health reporter Anita Beaumont wrote a fact-driven plea to the NSW government for the Hunter and the rest of regional NSW to be given more than their usual passing mention at Premier Gladys Berejiklian's daily 11am COVID-19 press conference.
Such calls are part and parcel of the media's role, but results are not always so quickly forthcoming.
So it was with some surprise that regional journalists saw an email invitation in their inboxes yesterday to join Deputy Premier John Barilaro in a regional update at 12.45pm, the first of what is shaping as a daily event, at least while the state's coronavirus shutdowns stretch beyond the borders of Greater Sydney.
Today I hosted a virtual COVID-19 update with regional journalists following the introduction of statewide stay-at-home orders. Regional media plays a vital role in ensuring our communities in the regions are equipped with up-to-date information. I was pleased to talk with you all, and I look forward to doing it again tomorrow
Deputy Premier John Barilaro after yesterday's briefing
We're not claiming all of the credit.
As Beaumont observed, Hunter Business Chamber wrote earlier in the week calling for something more in the way of "local presentation" about the coronavirus situations in various parts of the state.
And others parts of the state have registered their displeasure at the information vacuum.
The important thing is that the government appears to have listened, and that a daily briefing by the deputy premier is a good first step in helping the media help the government communicate its message.
But it's only a first step.
Additional health expert commentary would help, too.
CORONAVIRUS CATCH-UP
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COVID-19 Australia-wide
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Highest viral load in NSW': the Hunter towns in COVID spotlight
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Fresh exposure sites at Jesmond, Mayfield and more
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- Global pandemic snapshot
And as Beaumont observed on Saturday, NSW Health in Sydney has taken control of media relations, effectively over-riding our usual channels of communication with Hunter New England Local Health District.
A desire to ensure uniform messaging in times of crisis is understandable, but it's a fine line from there to perceptions that a central government is "silencing" local voices in some way.
If the government is serious about better serving the regions, it will allow the local health districts their usual autonomy. We know the health services are busy.
But more, and better-quality, information - not less - is the way to encourage a not-always compliant public to take health warnings seriously.
The Hunter added 16 cases yesterday.
Such numbers look manageable, but they're part of a record 478 cases statewide, the burden of the NSW government's resistance to an early Sydney lockdown.
It's no fun, and it's costly for many, but the less we move about, the quicker those numbers will fall.
ISSUE: 39,645
