 | |
| Type | Online newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner | Guardian Media Group |
| Editor | David Munk (acting) |
| Associate editor | Shelley Hepworth |
| Managing editor | Alison Rourke |
| News editor | Josephine Tovey |
| Opinion editor | Svetlana Stankovic |
| Photo editor | Carly Earl |
| Founded | 27 May 2013 (2013-05-27) |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Foster Street,Sydney, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Sister newspapers | The Guardian,Guardian US,Guardian New Zealand |
| ISSN | 1440-3765 |
| Website | www |
Guardian Australia is the Australian website of the British global online and print newspaper,The Guardian.
Available solely in anonline format, the newspaper's launch was led byKatharine Viner in time for the2013 Australian federal election and followed the introduction ofGuardian US in 2011.Guardian Australia is owned byGuardian Media Group, which is in turn owned by theScott Trust, which aims to stay independent and free from 'commercial pressures'.[1] The online publication relies on digital advertising and voluntary reader donations or subscriptions for revenue, eschewing enforcedpaywalls implemented by other news websites.[2]
Guardian Australia'sheadquarters is based in theSydney suburb ofSurry Hills, withbureaux inBrisbane,Melbourne andCanberra.[3] It employs more than 70 journalists, editors and other personnel As of 2020[update].[3][non-primary source needed][failed verification]
Prior to its 2013 launch the British edition of the website was already popular with Australian audiences, with over 1.3 million users per month helping it rank just outside the top 10 most-visited news websites in Australia.[4] In June 2018[5] and July 2021,[6]Guardian Australia was ranked No. 5 among news websites in Australia.
Following an investment from businessmanGraeme Wood, prompted byMalcolm Turnbull,[7]Guardian Australia was launched on 27 May 2013 in the lead-up to the2013 federal election.[8] The British team was joined by local journalists, some of whom previously worked atNews Corp Australia andFairfax Media, including Lenore Taylor, Katherine Murphy andDavid Marr.[9]
Guardian Australia has acomment is free section edited by Gabrielle Jackson, featuringopinion pieces from regular writers, politicians, other public figures and members of the public.[8]
In 2016, it was announced that the then political editor Lenore Taylor would take over theeditorship following the end ofEmily Wilson's tenure.[10]
In May 2017, as part of a confidential legal settlement,Guardian Australia issued an apology toNoel Pearson over a story they published in January 2017, which made defamatory claims. The newspaper said that "The Guardian Australia accepts that the comments regarding Mr Noel Pearson in that article were false. The Guardian Australia unreservedly retracts the statements made in the article regarding Mr Noel Pearson and apologises for the harm and distress caused to him."[11]
Guardian Australia turned its first profit after five years of operations with a balance of $700,000 in financial year 2017–2018. Previously, the online publication posted a loss ofA$7.5 million against a revenue ofA$3.79 million in 2013–2014, a loss ofA$6 million in 2014–2015 and a loss ofA$14 million in 2015–2016.[12][13][14][15]
To align with a shift in priorities fromThe Guardian's global operations, from 2023 the Australian edition refused to accept further advertising ofgambling services.[16]
In September 2025,Guardian Australia appointed Tom McIlroy as their new political editor.[17]
In December 2025,Guardian Australia was ranked as the fourth most visited news website in Australia.[18]
In February 2026, Taylor resigned as editor.Guardian Australia commenced an open process to appoint a new editor, while David Munk will become acting editor. Munk was previously the senior managing editor of the British version ofThe Guardian.[19]
Guardian Australia is owned byGuardian Media Group, which is in turn owned by theScott Trust, alimited company which aims to ensure the editorial independence of its publications and websites.[20]
Guardian Australia endorsed theLabor Party and theGreens for the2019 Australian federal election,[21] for the2022 and2025 Australian federal election it endorsed the Labor Party, the Greens and theteal independents.[22][23]
The newspaper, which reports a global digital readership of 39 million people, says Australia is its fourth-largest market with 1.3 million users.
The website also includes an Australian version of its successful opinion and commentary website Comment is Free which launches with pieces from Robert Manne, John Pilger and Thomas Keneally.
Guardian's first profit. Guardian Australia has announced, with great delight, that it has turned a profit. Its financial report revealed a $700,000 profit — the first since it launched five years ago. It's not turning over enough, though, to repay original benefactor Graeme Wood. Instead, parent company Guardian Media Group, based in the UK, recapitalised Guardian Australia to settle the loan. Guardian Australia now has 65,000 paying members, which accounts for 36% of the site's revenue. Advertising revenue makes up the rest.
GNM Australia Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Guardian News & Media, cleared a $1.27 million profit during FY24, more than double the $619,492 profit posted in FY23. The publication took $40 million in revenue, up 4.7%, from $37 million the prior year.
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