Last week’s industrial action by Fairfax staff is not a strike, writes Mike Seccombe. It is a campaign for a cure to an affliction of democracy.

“Australia’s political leaders need to start taking this seriously and deciding whether they want a strong national media or whether they’re happy to watch it collapse,” one source tells him.

“It’s not just us. The Australian could have the plug pulled at any moment. The News Corp tabloids are struggling. The Guardian’s in a perilous financial position. It’s a looming national crisis.”

Plus: Paul Bongiorno on the budget’s political context, and Karen Middleton on finding it’s through line.

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The Saturday Paper