Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the Teals’ ‘fake online news site’, funded by Teal donors, is extremely misleading to local communities and harmful to regional Australian media organisations.

Mr Littleproud said it is disappointing the Teals have launched online ‘Gazette News‘ in a bid to deceive residents where Teals are taking on The Nationals MPs and candidates.

It comes amid revelations Gazette’s three major funders, who are based in Sydney, have donated more than $1.7 million to Climate 200 and associated candidates.

The outlet includes coverage of its Climate 200-backed Independents.

“Regional media outlets and newspapers are the backbone of our regional communities,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The Teals lectured us about integrity in politics in the 2022 campaign, so why not just be honest with people, that this is just another form of political party advertising?

“The Melbourne millionaires running the Teal Party are taking country people for mugs, but they don’t understand that’s not how we do things in regional Australia.

“A key funder of Gazette News falsely claims the outlet provides journalism to communities where local news has ‘declined or disappeared’. This just happens to be in their target seats.”

Mr Littleproud added regional papers rely on advertising, not Facebook, to survive.

“If the Teals are so desperate to spread their message, why are they shunning our local journalists? The Teals turning their backs on regional media outlets is also the Teals turning their backs on the local community, to boost their own self-made stories.”

The Opposition has made a formal complaint to the Australian Electoral Commission.

This article appeared in Allora Advertiser, 19 March 2025.