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Australia has published a draft law that would require platforms such as Meta, Google and TikTok to pay for news content they aggregate or share. If they do not reach commercial agreements with domestic news agencies, the platforms would face a direct tax on their Australian revenue.
At a Tuesday press conference, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells said Australians are increasingly accessing news through platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Google rather than traditional news outlets.
The draft bill, known as the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI), proposes a 2.25% tax on platforms’ revenue in Australia unless they sign commercial agreements with domestic news agencies.
Authorities said the mechanism is designed to encourage cooperation: the more agreements signed with news agencies, the lighter the financial obligation. If enough agreements are reached as required, the effective tax rate could fall to 1.5%. The policy is estimated to return around AUD 200–250 million to the Australian news industry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the money is not intended for the government budget. “The entire amount will be returned to journalists and the news agencies — the ones producing the news content. This is a core element to ensure the integrity of the media ecosystem,” he said.
This is not the first time Australia has sought to require tech platforms to share revenue with news outlets. A News Bargaining Code, in effect since 2021, required platforms such as Google and Meta to pay news agencies. However, the rule included a loophole that allowed platforms to remove content to avoid financial obligations.
The NBI is intended to close that gap. Unlike the earlier approach, the draft has no “back door,” with platforms required to pay the levy regardless of whether they display news content. The proposal was announced in December 2024 and has since been refined into a draft law.
The draft includes TikTok within its scope, extending beyond the platforms covered by the earlier rules. AI services are excluded. The regulator said AI is being considered under different policy frameworks, particularly on copyright issues.
On the US side, the Trump administration has repeatedly opposed digital services taxes targeting US tech firms such as Google, Meta or Apple, and has signaled potential retaliation against countries pursuing similar policies.
More recently, the United States warned of higher taxes if the UK does not adjust its digital services tax on major US tech firms.
Asked about the pressure, Albanese said: “Australia is a sovereign nation and will make decisions based on the national interest.” He added: “We believe investing in journalism is a pillar of a healthy democracy. This is a factor shaping how Australian society operates.”
The draft bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in the winter session, with broad support sought in both the House and the Senate. Albanese said publishing the draft at this stage is intended to ensure transparency so all parties understand the government’s policy direction.
If the NBI is passed, platforms would have until July to comply.
Australia is not alone. Canada, Brazil and the EU have taken similar steps to require tech giants to share revenue with news media, though outcomes have been mixed.
By contrast, South Africa is described as taking a clearer and more effective approach. Regulators there actively facilitate agreements between Google, Meta, TikTok and Microsoft, ensuring around USD 40 million is allocated to local press over five years.
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