On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Australian government announced a bold move to ensure that global tech giants contribute to the sustainability of local journalism. Communications Minister Anika Wells unveiled a proposed "News Bargaining Incentive" that would impose a 2.25% levy on the local revenues of Meta, Alphabet's Google, and TikTok unless they negotiate deals to pay Australian media outlets for news content on their platforms.
"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," Wells said at a news conference.
The levy is designed to incentivize platforms to strike voluntary agreements with news organizations. If they fail to do so, the tax would apply, with proceeds directed to support Australian journalism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized national sovereignty, stating, "We're a sovereign nation. And my government will make decisions based upon the Australian national interest," in response to potential backlash from the US administration.
Australian media executives, including from Nine Entertainment, ABC, and News Corp Australia, welcomed the plan as a "critical step toward securing the future of Australian news." They argued that without compensation for news content, journalism becomes unsustainable.
However, tech companies expressed opposition. A Meta spokesperson called the idea "simply wrong," suggesting it would create a dependency on government subsidies. Google rejected the need for the tax, and TikTok declined to comment.
This development highlights ongoing global tensions over how digital platforms should support the news ecosystem, with Australia taking a proactive stance in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Australia warns 2% levy on Big Tech without local news deals
cgtn.com
