It is, editor-in-chief Emily Wilson assured an audience in Melbourne. “We make money. But we also spend money,” she said.

The Guardian globally has access to the Scott Trust, a massive money-pile that allows TheGuardian to make small losses that can be covered by the interest earned by the trust. But The Guardian Australia doesn’t have access to this pool, Wilson says. “We hope to become self-sustaining here by year five or six,” she said.

The Guardian Australia now employs 42 journalists, but Wilson says it still doesn’t have enough reporters to do what it needs to do. “We’re missing an Indonesia reporter. Someone in New Zealand. We need more people in China and more in Hong Kong.” The local site covers much of Asia for The Guardian globally, given its more convenient time zone.

Locally, she’d like more reporters covering Australian news, too. “All our reporters are juggling breaking news with investigations.” But any expansion would depend on revenue growth to fund it.