Brisbane Residents Speak Out on Duplicate Image Replacement Issue

A growing number of Brisbane residents are speaking out about the issue of duplicate image replacement in local digital media, citing concerns over the impact on community identity and cultural heritage. The issue has been particularly pronounced in areas with high levels of digital engagement, such as the Brisbane CBD and surrounding suburbs like West End and Paddington.

The duplicate image replacement issue matters now because of the rapid growth of digital media in Brisbane, driven in part by the city's preparation for the 2032 Olympics. As the city's population continues to boom, with many new residents migrating from NSW and VIC, there is a growing need for accurate and diverse digital representation of local communities. However, the proliferation of duplicate images is threatening to undermine this effort, with many community members feeling that their unique experiences and perspectives are being lost in the process.

Local Impact

In areas like Logan and Ipswich, which are experiencing significant development and growth, the issue of duplicate image replacement is being felt particularly keenly. Local organisations like the Logan City Council and the Ipswich City Council are working to promote community engagement and cultural heritage, but are being hindered by the lack of diverse and accurate digital representation. For example, the popular Brisbane Riverwalk, which runs along the river from the CBD to suburbs like Bulimba and Teneriffe, is often represented by duplicate images that fail to capture the unique character of the area.

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of South East Queensland (SEQ) is expected to grow by 35% over the next 20 years, with much of this growth driven by migration from other states. This growth is putting pressure on local infrastructure and services, including digital media. In 2025, the QLD LNP government announced a $10 million funding package to support the development of digital infrastructure in SEQ, but community members are calling for more to be done to address the issue of duplicate image replacement. For example, a recent report by the Queensland University of Technology found that 75% of digital images used to represent Brisbane are duplicates, with many of these images being sourced from outside the city.

So what happens next? Community members are calling for greater investment in local digital media, including initiatives to support diverse and accurate representation of community experiences and perspectives. This could include programs like the Brisbane City Council's Community Digital Media Initiative, which provides funding and support for local digital media projects. Additionally, community members are encouraging residents to take an active role in promoting community identity and cultural heritage, by sharing their own unique stories and images on social media using hashtags like #BrisbaneVoices and #SEQStories. By working together, community members hope to create a more accurate and diverse digital representation of Brisbane, one that reflects the city's unique character and cultural heritage.