Liberal MPs pull advertising after newspaper publisher Tina Brown announces bid to run as ‘Teal’ candidate in Federal Election

A northern Sydney community newspaper claims Liberal politicians have pulled advertising after its long-term editor announced she’ll run as a ‘Teal’ independent backed by Climate 200 at the upcoming federal election.

A community newspaper claims Liberal politicians have pulled advertising and involvement in the publication after its long-term editor Tina Brown used the paper to announce her intention to run as a ‘Teal’ independent at the upcoming federal election.

The Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Post has used a Page 3 editorial in its January edition to alert readers that federal and state Liberal Party MPs Julian Leeser, Matt Cross and Tim James have “ceased advertising” in the monthly newsletter.

The Post claims the pulling of advertising came after the paper’s editor Tina Brown wrote a page two article in the paper’s December edition to announce her candidacy in the upcoming federal election as a ‘community independent’ – backed by Climate 200 – for the Liberal-held seat of Berowra.

This masthead understands Liberal MPs cut ties with the paper due to concerns over impartiality. Paul Fletcher, the retiring Federal Liberal MP for Bradfield, has also pulled his involvement with the publication.

Ms Brown – in her December article – stated she had stepped down from her role as publisher to focus on her candidacy and the paper has claimed all its election coverage “will be impartial as the outcome of Tina Brown’s campaign does not affect the publication of The Post”.

Tina Brown is running as an independent candidate for the next federal election.

Ms Brown – in her December candidacy pitch in The Post – made a pledge to tackle “serious climate action” which she says has been ignored by the major parties.

“Since the electorate’s inception in late 1969, the good people of Berowra have re-elected Liberal members into our seat time and again, leading to us being taken for granted as a ‘safe blue-ribbon seat’,” she wrote.

“To see real change, to have our voices matter, we must be brave enough to look for true representation across the issues that really concern us”

The paper’s January edition.

The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post stated that Mr Leeser, Mr Cross and Mr James had “previously enjoyed the publication”, including running columns in the paper writing on local issues.

In a statement, the paper’s editor Claudia Butjerevic said “all political candidates and members are welcome to engage with The Post”.

“As political coverage is of interest to the North Shore, The Post will be producing content in relation to the 2025 federal election for the benefit of the community,” she said.

“All content is curated by the editor.”

Ms Brown – who remains the publisher of the paper – was featured in a half page column in the paper’s January edition in which she wrote about cost of living challenges and the need for federal tax reform to “help level the playing field for first home buyers”.

Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser.

The Berowra electorate is the second safest Liberal held seat in Sydney and has continuously been held by the party since its formation in 1969.

Ms Brown was contacted for comment but did not provide a response at the time of publication.