08 May 2017
A change in the law is being proposed to end the requirement for the Jersey Gazette, which publishes new laws, enactments and other official notices, to be printed in a local newspaper.
If approved, the proposition will allow the Gazette to be officially published on the government’s website, where Islanders could access government information online and free of charge.
The existing 1960 law stipulated that a Jersey Gazette “for the publication of official notices and other matters requiring to be brought to the attention of the public” should be published in an English newspaper circulating in the Island.
An act accompanying that law designated the Jersey Evening Post as the newspaper in which the Jersey Gazette should appear. This arrangement has remained in place ever since.
Official notifications have been appearing on the government website in preparation for this proposed law change.
Assistant Minister, Deputy Scott Wickenden, who has responsibility for e-government and the digital industry, said “Publishing the information online allows additional ways to publicise the government’s official notices. The information will be available via Twitter to social media users, and free of charge via RSS to any organisation interested in providing an information service to their audiences. Subscribers to the MyGov service can opt to receive official notices via email.
“Moving to an online format is in keeping with the government’s move to e-government. Parishes and government departments will still be free to use additional means of informing Islanders of events or laws they want to publicise, by advertising, for instance, in print, on TV or radio.”
The Gazette will be complemented by other means of keeping people informed, including advertising in print and broadcast media where considered necessary, and copies of the Gazette will be available for display in public places.
gov.je