Western Australia’s independent news organisations have mixed opinions on the Federal Government’s plan to force digital platforms to pay for Australian journalism.
Under the proposed News Bargaining Incentive, digital platforms that fail to negotiate deals with media organisations could be taxed at up to 2.25 per cent of Australian revenue.
Local & Independent News Association executive director Claire Stuchbery supports the move, but has concerns over its implementation.
“It makes sense for the revenue to come from digital platforms that have caused major disruption in the information ecosystem in Australia,” she says.
“We have concerns about the distribution of levy funds, and the opportunity the government has to support the green shoots of the news industry.”
The incentive builds on the 2021 News Media Bargaining Code, which allowed media outlets to negotiate deals with platforms that wanted to use their content.
An arbitration process came into play when negotiations failed.
But in March 2024, Meta announced it would not renew its deals and would stop hosting Australian news sites, circumventing the process and contributing to job cuts across the news industry.
Post Newspapers managing editor Bret Christian says he’s optimistic about the proposal.
“The original bargaining code did not work for smaller publishers. We qualified for the grant under the original system, and they either ignored our application or just put their hand in our face,” he says.
“The news media have suffered. So much news has been online and basically used for free by big tech companies.”
However, Fremantle Herald editor Steve Grant is questioning the proposal’s effectiveness.
“It’s more regulation in an industry that doesn’t need it, and if it’s anything like the last round, I don’t have great confidence this one will do any better,” he says.
Mr Grant would instead like to see the Federal Government spend more money advertising in print media.
“The quickest and easiest way would be to restore some of the [money] they pulled out and ditched into Meta,” he says.
According to the Department of Finance, the Federal Government spent more than $200 million in advertising in 2024-25, with digital advertising at $97.4 million, a 22% increase from 2023-24.
In comparison, newspapers’ advertising fell by 62%, from $3.7 million to $2.3 million.
There is, however, consensus over the role independent newspapers have in Australian journalism.
“These journalists are embedded in communities they serve – they’re close to what’s happening, and they elevate conversations,” Ms Stuchberry says.
“More than ever, we need independent newspapers to keep people informed impartially,” Mr Grant says.
“We need organisations that can call a spade a spade.”