The Federal Government's plans to put pressure on tech giants to pay Australian news media for content on their platforms has reportedly been paused in fear of United States President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that “two Australian officials” confirmed the delay is due to fears of causing payback tariffs causing the Albanese government to stall plans to begin designing the details of its News Bargaining Incentive.
In December 2024 the Labor government announced the addition to the News Bargaining Code which has been in place since 2021, whereby digital platforms are encouraged to enter into or renew commercial deals with news publishers via a charge and an offset mechanism.
Publishers and tech firms alike were told Labor would begin a public process to design the policy in late January, but now reports suggest the government will not move forward with the proposal until the debate on U.S. tariffs dies down.
Ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd, is reportedly playing “a central role in calming the US” about the news code, while advising Australian ministers on the next steps.
The Coalition and Greens have slammed the Federal Government for not acting fast enough to make big tech companies pay Australian media companies for content.
The shadow communications minister, Melissa McIntosh, said the Coalition was “committed” to implementing an updated code.
“The Albanese Labor government has failed the media industry in this country with no action on the news media bargaining code for over a year … [and] it is now getting caught up in the US tariffs dispute,” said McIntosh.
“This was meant to be a world-leading competition policy, but Labor’s slow lane approach is harming Australian media … the Coalition supports competition policy.”
The Greens also responded with concern about the threat of “tech bro billionaires and President Trump” on democracy and quality journalism in Australia.
“Donald Trump is not our President - and his anti-truth, anti-journalism agenda should not dictate policy here in Australia,” said Spokesperson for Communications & Senator for South Australia, Sarah Hanson-Young.
“What about all policies that seek to hold the tech giants to account and make platforms safer? From social media age bans, duty of care obligations and scam laws, is the Albanese Government abandoning those too?”, said Hanson-Young.
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