News Corp to close Queensland print centre
News Corp has kicked off consultations with staff at its two print centres in south-east Queensland as it looks to consolidate its operations into one site.
The company notes that its move to digital-only for its regional and community mastheads meant the demand simply wasn’t there anymore.
The Sunshine Coast Daily has moved online
Consultation with staff and representatives at the company’s print sites at Yandina and Murarrie began today and will conclude in a fortnight.
Executive general manager of production, logistics and property Marcus Hooke said the company was facing an excess production capacity.
“We are working closely with our employees to ensure the best possible outcomes for them all,” he added.
News Corp claimed that since transitioning to digital, there had been a strong uptick in demand for online subscriptions, with 8,000 sold across 76 mastheads over the past four weeks – a reported increase of 200% on the same time last year.
In 2018, News Corp and its rival, then known as Fairfax (now owned by Nine) entered an agreement to share printing presses in a bid to save costs. It resulted in the lost of up to 120 permanent and casual jobs across NSW and Queensland.
