Laburisti se povlače na kasno promjenu da bi dobili vijesti šemu preko linije

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reversed a late change to a scheme requiring tech giants to pay for news, securing a deal with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor that media firms hope will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue. Powerful news executives from Nine and News Corp had strongly opposed a reduction in the share of payouts each media outlet would receive from tech firms, from 25 per cent to 17 per cent. This change, made unilaterally by the government, has now been rescinded. The modification to the News Bargaining Incentive was intended to spread the financial benefits more widely and support smaller publishers. However, larger media outlets argued that the adjustment devalued their operations, which employ the majority of journalists. Albanese engaged in discussions with leading news executives and collaborated with Taylor to restore bipartisan backing for the groundbreaking initiative originally introduced under the Morrison government. The updated model compels digital giants to compensate news organizations for content shared on their platforms. Communications Minister Anika Wells stated the government was “delivering for journalists,” while Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino acknowledged “the significant benefits strong journalism brings to communities across the nation.” Another undisclosed change involves guaranteeing that Australian Associated Press, a newswire operated by a not-for-profit organization, will receive 5 per cent of any payments made by technology companies. Industry insiders questioned whether this allocation was appropriate for a smaller publisher, although they anticipated no complaints from news executives given Albanese's reversal of the major alteration. The News Bargaining Incentive imposes a 2.5 per cent charge on tech firms' local ad revenue. To encourage voluntary agreements between digital platforms and media entities, the government provides an offset against this charge. The goal is to provide up to $250 million to media companies affected by the shift of advertising funds toward tech giants. Digital platforms argue that the policy lacks justification since news outlets benefit from disseminating their content on social media. The Trump administration labels the tax as a form of “foreign extortion,” prompting calls from the U.S. tech sector for higher tariffs on Australian exports as a punitive measure. On Tuesday, Trade Minister Don Farrell lobbied the United States regarding President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 12.5 per cent tariff on Australian goods. Additionally, the government adjusted the accounting method for the News Bargaining Incentive, expanding the base of tech firms' revenue subject to the charge. The number of mandatory deals each company must enter into has risen from six to eight. Legislation introducing these changes will be presented to parliament on Thursday and is expected to pass the Senate the following week, increasing pressure on Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to engage in negotiations. Last year, Meta threatened to block news articles on its platforms unless it was exempt from any charges. Google, however, has shown willingness to negotiate terms. Separately, the government is poised to introduce compromises on gambling legislation, including restrictions on inducements used to attract gamblers. Albanese met with Taylor to address both the gambling legislation and the proposed reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Discussions also touched upon the News Bargaining Incentive, aiming to ensure that digital platforms must engage in commercial agreements with media organizations to utilize their content. Efforts to limit inducements, tighten advertising times, and adjust provisions for streaming services are reportedly part of the concessions on the gambling legislation. These proposals are expected to garner bipartisan support, reflecting a balance between accommodating recreational gamblers and addressing concerns related to problem gambling. Critics, however, argue that the legislation remains insufficient, with the Greens advocating for a complete prohibition on inducements. Former Prime Minister John Howard expressed skepticism about Labor’s proposed opt-out system for advertisements, suggesting an opt-in system would be more effective. During the meeting between Albanese and Taylor, the NDIS was discussed briefly, emphasizing the importance of passing the reforms promptly to realize budget savings associated with the program. The government aims to finalize the gambling legislation by the end of the parliamentary session, with the Coalition expressing openness to the process, albeit with a commitment to seek approval from the full party room. Advocates for gambling harm reduction within the Coalition are pushing for an independent review mechanism to assess the effectiveness of the legislation in subsequent years.