A Statement From The Publisher: We’re Here To Stay

Long term readers of the Star Observer were understandably concerned when they read that this publication is facing imminent collapse.

For nearly half a century, Star Observer has been telling our community’s stories.We’ve documented our grief, celebrated our victories, asked uncomfortable questions and made room for queer joy. Generations of LGBTQIA+ Australians have found themselves in our pages and in our stories online. 

Last week, Mumbrella, a media trade journal, sensationalistically proclaimed: “Star Observer undertakes restructure in battle for survival.” The story was printed without comment from us. 

Two days later the story was picked up by another LGBTQIA+  publication, once again without comment from us, and so important context was missing. 

The initial story also contained inaccuracies, like saying our publisher Out Publications also runs our competitor QNews, which is not the case – we did ask Mumbrella for correction, but whether it is made is out of our control.

As Mark Twain once famously quipped: “The report of my death was an exaggeration”. 

Publishing these stories without context or comment from us led many of our readers and clients to believe the business was ceasing operations and jobs were being axed, which is untrue and caused unnecessary distress. 

Star Observer is simply restructuring its debt repayment arrangements, something many small businesses do to manage financial pressures. 

We are not closing our doors, not reducing staff numbers, or shuttering operations. We’re taking a common step to manage our debt while continuing the work our community relies on.

That being said, we haven’t exactly been quiet about needing support from the community.

In July, we launched our fundraiser and told our readers plainly that we were facing financial challenges. We’ve had to tighten our belt – as so many news outlets have – and we have never hid that fact.

A significant part of that pressure started when Google tore up a funding agreement that had been entered into in 2022. Alongside 23 other small, independent publishers, the Star Observer negotiated a five-year agreement. In 2025, (as was reported in the Australian Financial Review) Google cancelled our contracts two years early. A smaller, one-year agreement was eventually negotiated for less –but  we lost an entire year’s worth of revenue.

That money helps pay the queer people who report the news that affects you. Losing it leaves a hole that small newsrooms like us cannot absorb easily. 

In the face of lost Google revenues, we launched a funding appeal. We cut expenses where possible. And we set about restructuring our debt. Others who lost funding, including LGBTQIA+ media outlets, drastically reduced their editorial staff or shuttered their print editions entirely. 

It is unclear whether any Australian publishers will receive further revenue from Google or any of the Big Tech companies. A few months ago, the federal government passed new legislation called the News Bargaining Incentive, which is intended to make digital  conglomerates contribute to Australian journalism. It gives tech companies a financial incentive to strike funding deals with news outlets; if they choose not to, they must pay a levy that would be distributed to Australian newsrooms. 

Star Observer’s publisher is one of just 83 registered media companies eligible to receive that funding, and the only LGBTQIA+ publisher among them. Assuming those funds are ever distributed, 

In the face of this uncertainty, our fundraiser will stay open. So please, if you can afford to donate, we would deeply appreciate it. 

Your contribution will ensure the continuation of our country’s longest running LGBTQIA+ outlet. Yes, we’re having to tighten our belt like everyone else, and we’ll keep banging the tin cup as loudly and as often as we need to, but – Star Observer isn’t going anywhere.

Our LGBTQIA+ journalists will keep reporting LGBTQIA+ news with integrity, the staunch need to hold power to account for our community, a firm commitment to the truth, a dash of queer joy, and ethical, best practice journalism.

We’ve got far too much left to do – but we appreciate the community helping us do it.