General News
6 May, 2026
News incentive a win for regional communities
REGIONAL news publishers have welcomed the release of draft News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) legislation and urged all Members of Parliament, regardless of party, to support its passage.
In simple terms, the NBI would require large digital platforms, including Meta, TikTok and Google, to pay a charge unless they have reached commercial agreements that fairly compensate eligible Australian news organisations.
Country Press Australia (CPA), which represents more than 240 regional and community news publications and their digital news services across the country, is welcoming the proposed legislation, saying it was an important step toward restoring fairness between Australian news publishers and major global digital platforms.
President Damian Morgan recognised the work of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Communications Anika Wells and Assistant Treasurer Dr Daniel Mulino in progressing the draft legislation and acknowledged the constructive engagement that has occurred with the regional news sector through the policy development process.
“This is fundamentally about fairness, but it is also about truth, facts and the future of informed communities,” Mr Morgan said.
“Professional journalism costs money to produce. Large digital platforms derive value from that journalism, but they do not employ the local reporters, editors and photographers who create it.
“The News Bargaining Incentive is designed to encourage fair commercial agreements so Australian journalism can remain sustainable.”
CPA said the proposed legislation was built on the News Media Bargaining Code introduced by the former Coalition Government, which established the important principle that powerful global technology platforms should contribute to the cost of the news content from which they benefit.
CPA says Australia has led the world in confronting this challenge and wants the political bipartisan support to continue.
“Local news is not a Labor issue, a Liberal issue, a National Party issue or a Greens issue. It is an Australian issue,” Mr Morgan said.
“Every community deserves access to reliable, professionally produced information. Every community deserves journalists who are prepared to ask questions, check facts, attend meetings, report decisions and give local people a voice.
“We acknowledge Google’s constructive engagement with the news industry.
“But the responsibility cannot fall on one company alone. All major digital platforms that derive value from Australian journalism must accept their responsibility.
“No company should be able to benefit from the credibility, relevance and public value of professional news while avoiding a fair contribution to the cost of producing it.”
Country Press Australia said it was important the final legislation encouraged genuine commercial deals and did not create an incentive for platforms to reduce, remove or downgrade access to Australian news.
“Reliable news must remain visible and accessible to Australians,” Mr Morgan said.
“The answer cannot be for platforms to avoid responsibility by making trusted news harder to find. At a time of rising misinformation, Australians need more access to facts, not less.”
The issue was especially important for regional, rural and local Australia, where local news media was often the only professional source of verified local information.
“In many communities, if they are not there to record, question, explain and publish, often no one else is. That matters deeply,” Mr Morgan said.
“Without local news media, communities lose more than a publication or a website. They lose a trusted public record. They lose scrutiny of local decision making. They lose a place where facts are checked, rumours are challenged and local stories are told with care and accountability.
“At a time when misinformation can spread quickly and loudly, the work of professional local journalists has never been more important. Country Press Australia members do not deal in anonymous claims, conspiracy theories or algorithm driven outrage. They stand behind what they publish.”
Country Press Australia said the consultation process must ensure regional and community publishers were properly recognised in any future commercial arrangements, not left behind while only the largest metropolitan media companies benefit.
“Regional Australians must not be treated as an afterthought,” Mr Morgan said.
“Our members are often the only professional news media voice in their communities. They are the ones making sure regional people are seen, heard and understood.”
He urged Parliament to pass legislation that delivered fair, practical and lasting outcomes for eligible Australian news publishers of all sizes.
“This reform is about keeping facts in front of Australians,” Mr Morgan said.
“It is about protecting local journalism, strengthening democracy and ensuring regional communities continue to have a voice.”
