Release: Parliament threatens Australia's access to news

The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance, the nations' largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today condemns the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code before parliament which if passed will legislate that Facebook and Google pay media outlets for access to their news stories.

“The Mandatory Bargaining Code if enacted would force platforms like Google and Facebook to subsidise Australian media,” said ATA Policy Director, Emilie Dye. “In political circles that’s called protectionism.”

“The last thing we need in a post-covid economy is more unfair regulation. The ACCC basically wants to force successful companies to use their profits to support less successful companies.”

"If this bill passes it puts these platforms between a rock and a hard place. They must decide between giving their profits to Australian media outlets or getting rid of Australian news content completely.”

"This blll is unjust and short-sighted. It will hurt the Australian people the most. If Facebook and Google refuse to pay up and forego sharing Australian news, it is the Australian people who will become less informed about today’s world.”

“The Australian government must resist kowtowing to Australian media and recognise that you cannot punish platforms for profiting from a changing media landscape. It is not Facebook’s fault that print media is out of vogue. The Australian parliament needs to come to it’s senses and say no to Mandatory Bargaining Code Bill.”