Mackay and Toowoomba start-ups within Queensland Media Holdings have ceased publication after running out of funds.
Efforts to instill new capital into the publisher of the Mackay Telegraph after it went into liquidation almost three weeks ago appear to have failed.
The newspaper – a partial response to APN’s closure of its printing plant in the North Queensland city – and sister publication the Toowoomba Telegraph, were part of a bold plan to establish new titles in towns benefitting from the mining boom.
APN has daily newspapers in both centres. Its Daily Mercury reported that liquidator BRI Ferrier had said a QMH director had hoped to find funds to continue publication and support a deed of company arrangement to creditors, but this had not happened. The paper said Mackay Telegraph general manager Tim Shinnick had described staff members as devastated but "in good spirits". About 30 jobs are understood to be affected.