Australia will require major technology companies to strike deals with at least eight local news organisations under revised media licensing laws designed to direct more advertising revenue towards domestic outlets.
The government will introduce the legislation in parliament on Thursday. The new framework increases the minimum number of media companies from six under an earlier draft.
It will also allocate 5% of funds raised under the scheme to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), which now operates as a non-profit news organisation.
New Limits on Platform Payments
The revised system restores a cap on individual agreements. Under the proposal, no single deal can exceed 25% of a platform’s levy liability.
The levy equals 2.5% of a company’s Australian advertising revenue. Platforms can reduce their payments by the value of agreements they reach with eligible news organisations.
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Communications Minister Anika Wells said the changes would provide greater support for smaller and diverse media organisations.
She said Australians consume news through a wide range of platforms and sources, making broader support for the media sector necessary.
AAP to Receive Dedicated Funding
The government said the allocation for AAP recognises its contribution to public-interest journalism.
AAP provides news reports, photographs and video to media organisations across Australia.
Officials said its role in supplying news content makes continued support important to the wider Australian media industry.
Australia Reworks Big Tech Media Rules
Australia introduced its original media bargaining law in 2021. The system required Google and Meta to negotiate payments with news organisations for the use of their content.
If negotiations failed, a government-appointed arbitrator could determine the terms.
Major technology companies subsequently reached several commercial agreements with Australian news organisations.
However, the government began redesigning the system after Meta announced that it would stop paying for news content in Australia and other markets.
The revised framework will expand its coverage to platforms including TikTok and Microsoft’s LinkedIn.
The government says the changes aim to ensure that large digital platforms contribute more fairly to the Australian news industry, while helping smaller outlets maintain sustainable journalism operations.
