The Albanese government and local media companies will go to war with Facebook owner Meta, after the digital giant said it would stop paying news publishers about $70 million a year for content when existing deals expire this year.

After months of speculation the $1.9 trillion social platform would back out, Meta’s local boss Will Easton and Asia-Pacific public policy lead Simon Milner told publishers and the government it would not negotiate new deals. The Albanese government says it will move within weeks to force Meta to the negotiating table.