Albanese’s 2.25pc Media Levy Misses the Real Battle with Big Tech
The Australian Financial Review
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 29 Apr 2026
- Priority Score
- 2
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 2 May 2026, 08:00 pm
Description
Labor’s belated push to make tech giants pay for journalism ignores the more pressing need to regulate the artificial intelligence revolution.
Summary
This editorial argues that the Australian government's focus on revenue levies for news media distractions from more urgent regulatory requirements surrounding the artificial intelligence revolution. It suggests that legislative energy spent on legacy media bargaining codes overlooks the transformative risks and governance needs posed by rapidly advancing AI capabilities. The piece highlights a critical gap in Australian policy where current frameworks prioritize short-term economic protection for media firms over long-term oversight of systemic AI risks and societal impacts.
Body
PolicyEconomyThe AFR ViewPrint articleApr 29, 2026 – 5.42pmOn Tuesday in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally unveiled Labor’s draft News Media Bargaining Incentive laws. If tech giants negotiate commercial agreements with media organisations to pay for the journalism that appears on their platforms, a 2.25 per cent levy on the Australian revenue of these companies will be entirely offset.The announcement came more than two years after Facebook owner Meta walked away from deals it struck with Australian media companies under the Morrison government’s News Media Bargaining Code.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreThe AFR ViewOpinionAIAnthony AlbaneseFacebookCanberraAmanda RishworthALPFetching latest articles