Country Press Australia is breathing a sigh of relief after news the Federal Government plans to establish the News Bargaining Incentive which will ensure large digital platforms contribute to keeping news media alive in Australia.

As so many small rural communities rely on local publications for information, this comes as welcome news to country press publishers.

Following a META announcement in March that it would no longer renew agreements with publishers, the incentive will spur on digital platforms to renew or enter into commercial deals with news publishers that will help keep rural publications alive.

It will work when search and social media companies fail to reach agreements with publishers, and are forced instead to pay a charge and 100 per cent of funds raised will then be distributed to eligible publishers.

The value of any agreements reached would then be offset against the tax payable by the companies.

Lee O'Connor Managing Editor Coonamble Times and Western Plains App - Image courtesy Linkedin

“It is very encouraging that our government has taken a strong stance on this issue,”said Lee O’Connor, Managing Editor Coonamble Times and Western Plains App.

“The outcomes – whether successful or not – will have a big impact on news publishers like the Western Plains App and all our towns’ local newspapers.

“We are grateful that Country Press Australia has been at the table to voice the needs of smaller, regional publishers,” said Mrs O’Connor.

“The devil will be in the detail, and I only hope smaller publishers are not left out. I’ll certainly be reading the discussion paper very carefully and plan to make a submission,” she added.

Country Press Australia president Andrew Schreyer – Image courtesy The Australian

According to Country Press Australia president Andrew Schreyer the Incentive would help deliver financial support and give recognition to member publishers for the valuable work they do across the rural, regional, and outer-suburban areas.

“In the overwhelming majority of communities in regional, rural and outer-suburban Australia where our members operate, they are the only provider of hyper-local place based public interest journalism to those communities.

Image courtesy Nyngan Weekly

“And as such, the local paper’s role as an important piece of democratic infrastructure cannot be overstated,” said Mr Schreyer.

“The announcement of the News Bargaining Incentive is good news for publishers who otherwise faced ongoing challenges in the wake of Meta’s previous decision to not renew agreements.

“Local papers command an overwhelming share of voice across the broader regional, rural and outer-suburban landscape and it’s pleasing to see the increased recognition from government of the role our papers play in the communities they serve,” he said.

According to the government report, the incentive will apply to large digital platforms who operate significant social media or search services, whether they carry news or not.

Mr Schreyer says Country Press Australia look forward to playing an important role in the consultation process and expressed thanks to ministers Rowland and Jones for showing their support to publishers.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to our members and to the communities they serve.”

After stakeholder consultation in regards the final scheme design, a public consultation paper is expected to be released in early 2025, and the incentive will take effect from January 1.