The Australian is a national daily broadsheet newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964. It is the only Australian daily distributed nationally, with a reach of over 4 million cross-platform readers in 2024. Known for its centre-right editorial stance, The Australian plays a major role in politics, business, and cultural debates across the country. Its Saturday edition is published as The Weekend Australian.
Ownership
The newspaper is owned by News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of News Corp, chaired by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. News Corp also owns the most widely circulated metropolitan dailies in Sydney (The Daily Telegraph), Melbourne (Herald Sun), Brisbane (Courier-Mail), Adelaide (The Advertiser), and Hobart (The Mercury), along with the sole daily in Darwin.
Through its global connections, The Australian publishes content from The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, and other News Corp outlets.
History
The first edition of The Australian was published on 15 July 1964 in Canberra. Initially, it faced skepticism, as most newspapers relied on local advertising, and a national paper was seen as unviable. The paper was printed in Canberra, with plates flown to other cities.
- 1960s–1970s: The Australian faced financial struggles for decades. It launched a Sunday edition in 1971, The Sunday Australian, but this was discontinued in 1972. Early editors included Maxwell Newton, Walter Kommer, and Adrian Deamer. Under Deamer, the paper hired its first Aboriginal journalist, John Newfong.
- 1975: During the Whitlam dismissal, disputes over editorial direction led to a staff strike.
- 2002–2015: Chris Mitchell served as editor-in-chief, marking a strong conservative editorial era.
- 2010: The paper launched Australia’s first iPad news app.
- 2011: Introduced a digital paywall, one of the first in Australia.
- 2017: Launched a Chinese-language site.
- 2023: Michelle Gunn became the first female editor-in-chief, replacing Chris Dore.
Coverage and Sections
The Australian covers national, world, business, technology, defence, legal, and cultural news. Regular sections include:
- The Nation – domestic politics and policy
- Worldwide – international news
- Business – financial markets, mining, energy, and corporate affairs
- Australian IT – technology and digital innovation
- Thoroughbreds – horse racing
- Review (Saturday) – books, arts, film, television
- Weekend Magazine – lifestyle and features
It has published special investigations such as Australia’s energy sector, climate policy, and indigenous disadvantage. Since 2019, it produces Australia’s Richest 250, ranking the nation’s wealthiest individuals.
Editorial Stance
The Australian is often described as centre-right and conservative in tone. It strongly supported John Howard’s Liberal government and has been critical of Labor administrations.
Notable editorial positions include:
- Economic libertarianism, favoring free markets
- Climate change: publishing sceptical voices like Ian Plimer, but also scientific advocates such as Tim Flannery
- Politics: supportive of the Liberal–National Coalition, though it endorsed Labor’s Kevin Rudd in 2007
Critics argue the paper has fueled political polarization in Australia, while supporters see it as a defender of business interests and conservative values.
Notable Stories and Investigations
- AWB Kickback Scandal (2005–2006): Revealed illegal wheat-for-oil payments to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
- Stimulus Watch (2009–2010): Investigated school construction waste under Kevin Rudd’s stimulus program.
- AWU Affair (2011–2013): Covered controversies surrounding Julia Gillard’s past links to union figures.
- The Teacher’s Pet (2018): A podcast by Hedley Thomas that exposed the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, leading to a police investigation and conviction of Chris Dawson.
Circulation and Readership
The Australian has seen declining print circulation but strong digital growth.
- 2013: 116,655 weekday copies, 254,891 weekend copies
- 2015: 104,165 weekday, 230,182 weekend, plus 67,561 paid digital subscribers
- 2019: 851,000 print readers; 1.96M digital; 2.42M cross-platform
- 2024: 1.82M print, 3.56M digital, 4.06M cross-platform reach
Columnists and Contributors
The Australian features prominent conservative, centrist, and business commentators, including:
Janet Albrechtsen, Paul Kelly, Greg Sheridan, Judith Sloan, Chris Kenny, Troy Bramston, Angela Shanahan, Graham Richardson, Claire Lehmann, Peta Credlin.
Cultural contributors include Phillip Adams, Bernard Salt, Trent Dalton, Nikki Gemmell, and critic Christopher Allen.
Cartoonists: Johannes Leak and John Spooner.
Awards
The Australian and its journalists have received multiple Walkley Awards for investigative journalism, along with recognition in the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association Awards:
- 2007: Online Newspaper of the Year
- 2017: Daily Newspaper of the Year, Weekend Newspaper of the Year, Best Mobile Site
Conclusion
The Australian remains a leading national daily newspaper, shaping debate across politics, economics, and culture in Australia. Owned by News Corp Australia, it has evolved from a financially struggling startup to one of the country’s most influential media institutions, both in print and digital platforms.
