The government said companies like Meta, Google and TikTok may be hit with multimillion-dollar charges under a proposed ‘News Bargaining Incentive’ scheme, Reuters reported.
The plan would impose a 2.25% levy on their Australian revenues if they do not reach agreements with publishers. The funds collected would then be redirected to support the country’s journalism sector.
“People are increasingly getting their news directly from Facebook, from TikTok and from Google, and we believe it’s only fair that large digital platforms contribute to the hard work of journalism that enriches their feeds and that drives their revenue,” Communications Minister Anika Wells said as quoted by Reuters.
She added that companies would have a clear choice: “Platforms should do deals with news organisations. If they decide not to, they will end up paying more.”
The proposal comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has opposed digital taxes on American tech companies and warned of possible tariffs against countries that introduce such measures.
“We’re a sovereign nation. And my government will make decisions based upon the Australian national interest,” Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Albanese added that big tech firms currently benefit from Australian journalism without paying adequately and the new steps are “to make sure platforms contribute to Australian news.”
“Because there’s no substitute for Australian news and stories told by Australian journalists,” he wrote.
Right now, big tech companies can benefit from Australian journalism without paying their fair share.
We’re taking the next steps to make sure platforms contribute to Australian news.
Because there’s no substitute for Australian news and stories told by Australian journalists. pic.twitter.com/b7ueymaXcG
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 28, 2026
Under the draft law, the levy would take effect from the 2025-26 financial year starting July 1. Wells said the mechanism would also ensure that funds collected are distributed to news organisations based on the number of journalists they employ. Platforms that sign deals, especially with smaller publishers, would receive higher offsets.
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The new proposal is designed to replace Australia’s 2021 media bargaining law, which the government said is ‘no longer working effectively’” That earlier rule had forced tech companies to pay for news content.
This had prompted Meta at one point to block news sharing on its platform before eventually reaching agreements with several Australian publishers which expired in 2024.
