In portentous tones, Turnbull spoke of the need to increase postal charges and to reduce the number of deliveries per week.

Stamps, ten years ago, cost 70 cents (while a standard ABR print subscription cost $85). On 3 April 2024, the price of stamps rose to $1.50. Now it costs ABR and other like magazines $4.50 to send a single copy via ordinary mail (slightly less via a mailing house). Thus, almost half of the $100 that print subscribers currently pay per annum (or $90 if they are pensioners) goes to Australia Post.

The majority of ABR subscribers take the digital version, but many readers still prefer to read (and retain) hard copies. (Some stalwarts have been subscribing since 1978, when the second series began.)

What a loss it would be for the literary community if print magazines of this kind became untenable – unaffordable – because of economic reforms and corporate exigencies. Yet every time postal charges rise and extra days are added to sometimes sluggish deliveries, this becomes more conceivable.

For the time being, ABR will not increase its subscription rates for the print edition. We know from conversations with our readers that many of them face new pressures because of the rising cost of living. We’re committed to producing the best magazine we can and to delivering it at the cheapest rates possible.

We do so at a moment when, for the first time in at least thirty years, ABR is without federal funding (via Creative Australia). As many of you know, ABR had success in the crucial 2025-28 multi-year-round, and funding will recommence in January 2025 – but that is seven months away. Meanwhile, we have commitments to writers, staff, our printer, the mailing house, our landlord, etc.

All of this makes private donations more precious. ABR is blessed with enlightened supporters: your generosity has revitalised this magazine over the past decade. Never before has this philanthropy been more necessary, or more valued. Inside this issue you will find our new donations flyer, which lists some of the ways in which donations improve and entrench this fully independent magazine.

Please consider donating to the magazine that supports writers and advances our literary culture.