CPA president Damian Morgan said the incentive was “a strong and necessary step towards securing the future of public interest journalism across regional Australia”.
The News Bargaining Incentive is a world-first policy, building on the success of the News Media Bargaining Code, which established ongoing payments from Google and Meta to news producers for the use of their content.
While Google has continued to make payments, Meta walked away.
Now, with the draft legislation released for public consultation, CPA is urging parliamentarians across the political divide to unite behind this next step in strengthening Australia’s independent media sector by securing payments from global social media companies, including Meta and TikTok.
“For too long, much of the advertising revenue that once funded local journalism has been captured by global technology platforms with monopolistic power,” Mr Morgan said.
“These global social media corporations dominate the digital advertising market but invest nothing back into the communities from which they profit.
“Their business models depend on the work of journalists yet contribute nothing to sustaining the local reporting that keeps communities connected and holds institutions to account.”
The impact of this imbalance has been severe.
In some local government areas, there are now no independent journalists left to report on council meetings, scrutinise public decisions, celebrate local achievements and connect local communities.
“When local journalism disappears, transparency and trust in local democracy disappear with it,” Mr Morgan said.
“The News Bargaining Incentive is a practical, bipartisan opportunity to help rebalance this inequity, to recognise the public value of journalism, and to sustain the people and businesses who produce it.”
Country Press Australia is calling for all members of parliament to advocate for the swift passage of the legislation once consultation concludes.
