# Australia passes news bargaining law targeting Big Tech > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australia-big-tech-news-bargaining-legislation > Updated: 2026-08-19T05:26:13.000Z. Sources: 25. Developments: 4. The Australian Parliament has passed the News Bargaining Incentive and News Journalism Payments bills, establishing a framework to compel major digital platforms to compensate local news organizations. The law targets tech giants with Australian digital advertising revenue exceeding A$250 million, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Under the legislation, these companies must either reach commercial agreements with at least eight eligible news businesses or face a 2.5 per cent levy on their local advertising revenue. To ensure the law supports a diverse media landscape, no single agreement can cover more than 25 per cent of a platform’s total levy liability. The scheme utilizes tax offsets to encourage investment: spending with large publishers provides a 150 per cent offset, while spending with small-to-medium publishers provides a 200 per cent offset. Additionally, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) is designated to receive 5 per cent of the revenue collected through the incentive. The passage of the law has drawn mixed reactions. Industry bodies such as Free TV Australia have welcomed the move as a vital step toward ensuring global technology platforms contribute fairly to journalism ecosystems. Conversely, Meta has criticized the measures, labeling them an “unfair tax” that may not guarantee a sustainable news sector. The legislation also remains a point of international friction; the US-based group Americans for Tax Reform has characterized the measure as a ‘shakedown’ of American companies and has suggested potential US retaliation through tariffs. ## Claims - The Australian Parliament passed the News Bargaining Incentive and News Journalism Payments scheme. (corroborated by 16 sources) - Large digital platforms must pay a 2.5 per cent levy on Australian advertising revenue if they do not reach commercial deals with local news publishers. (corroborated by 15 sources) - The initiative increases the distribution scheme loading for regional journalists, small to medium publishers, and under-represented communities from 10 to 20 per cent. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The law applies to platforms with a significant presence in Australia and local advertising revenues exceeding A$250 million. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Platforms can avoid the levy by signing agreements with at least eight different Australian publishers. (corroborated by 13 sources) - No single commercial agreement can cover more than 25 per cent of a platform’s total levy liability. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The US group Americans for Tax Reform called the proposal a ‘shakedown’ and suggested the US should investigate or retaliate. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Broadcasters invested $408 million in trusted news during FY24, including $35.2 million in regional Australia. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-19: Australia passes news bargaining law for tech giants Australia has passed the News Bargaining Incentive, requiring tech giants like Meta and Google to pay local news publishers or face a 2.5% advertising revenue levy. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-passes-news-bargaining-law-to-tax-large-digital-platforms ### 2026-08-17: Australia introduces new laws to compel tech giants to pay for news Australia has introduced new legislation to force major tech platforms to pay news publishers, closing loopholes that allowed companies to avoid payments by removing news content from their services. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-introduces-new-laws-to-compel-tech-giants-to-pay-for-news ### 2026-08-12: Australia updates news bargaining laws to target Big Tech Australia is revamping media laws to force tech giants like Google and Meta to sign more deals with local news outlets, ensuring a larger share of advertising revenue reaches journalists. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-updates-news-bargaining-laws-to-target-big-tech ### 2026-08-10: Albanese and Taylor hold talks on Big Tech news levy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is meeting with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor to salvage news bargaining legislation aimed at forcing tech giants to pay Australian media companies for content. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/albanese-and-taylor-hold-talks-on-big-tech-news-levy --- Cite as: Australia passes news bargaining law targeting Big Tech. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australia-big-tech-news-bargaining-legislation