News chiefs back Labor’s crackdown on big tech

Australia’s top media organisations are confident the Albanese government will deliver on its pledge to force the likes of Meta, Google and ByteDance to pay for the use of their content.

The Albanese government plans to force tech companies such as Meta, Google and TikTok owner ByteDance to continue to pay news publishers for their content. Pictures: Getty Images, AFP

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The leaders of Australia’s top media organisations have expressed confidence that the Albanese government will deliver on its pledge to force tech companies to pay news publishers for the use of their content, amid uncertainty about the willingness of the digital platforms to come to the negotiating table.

Just prior to Christmas, the federal government announced plans to introduce a “news bargaining incentive” to ensure tech companies such as Meta, Google and ByteDance would continue to compensate news media outlets for the use of their journalism.

The policy was intended to address limitations in the news media bargaining code – legislated by the Morrison government in 2021 – after Meta announced early last year it would stop paying Australian media organisations for content on its platforms, as had been previously agreed under the terms of the code.

“These social media platforms that … essentially don’t have journalists working for them, but produce and earn revenue off that work of journalists, be it across the board, whether it’s the ABC or News (Corp) or The Guardian or The Age, they reprint it, send it out in digital form, and they should pay for journalism,” Mr Albanese said in December, outlining how the tech companies would be liable for heavy annual charges if they failed to strike deals with news outlets.

There are concerns that some tech companies have been reluctant to engage with the re-elected Albanese government on the details of the news bargaining incentive, while another complicating factor is US President Donald Trump’s opposition to any moves to make tech companies compensate news media outlets for the use of their content.

However, the chief executives of Australia’s biggest news media organisations have thrown their collective weight behind Labor’s push for reform in the sector.

“It’s unfortunate that we even need these rules to force social and search platforms to do what every other company in Australia is expected to do without question: that is, pay fair value to keep using content that isn’t theirs,” a spokesperson for Nine boss Matt Stanton told The Australian.

“Australians are using social and search platforms as a way to find our quality news content, and having that easily available delivers significant value to the big international tech companies.

“The Australian community supports the government taking strong and decisive action on this issue and it’s now time the proposed reforms are put into law. Nine continues to work constructively with the media sector and the government to support this process.”

Seven West Media CEO Jeff Howard. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Seven West Media managing director and chief executive officer Jeff Howard said the news bargaining incentive is a critical element in the sustainability of journalism in Australia.

“We are working closely with industry colleagues to encourage the government to move quickly to share more detail and introduce legislation to bring the news bargaining incentive to life this year,” Mr Howard said.

“At the same time, we will ask them to be open to pursuing other mechanisms by which they could support the production of trusted news content.

“Access to quality news is vital for a diversity of voices in a healthy democracy. Although delivering it comes with significant investment, it is something we are very proud to do for our audiences living in capital cities and in regional Australia.”

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said: “We have been told that the incentive is a top priority for the government, which has reconfirmed its commitment to deliver it.

“Reinforcing Australia’s sovereignty and ensuring a viable local media is paramount when so much of Australian journalism is being taken without compensation.”

A spokesperson for Network Ten said: “We have been duly consulted and appreciate the government’s commitment to finalising the incentive.

“We look forward to an expeditious resolution of the consultation phase and the consequent implementation of the incentive.

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino, who is overseeing the introduction of the policy, said via a spokesperson: “The government remains committed to the news bargaining incentive.” But the spokesperson declined to respond to questions about whether the incentive might be implemented by the end of the year.

A Google spokesman said the company has “continually demonstrated strong support for public interest journalism, and is the only technology company with an extensive number of significant commercial agreements with Australian publishers”.

“We are committed to supporting public interest journalism in Australia and continue to renew deals with a wide range of publishers large, small and emerging,” the spokesperson said.

Asked if Google was intending to renew deals with major Australian news organisations that are due to expire in 2026, the spokesperson did not respond.

Questions to Meta went unanswered.