Australia: Consultation on draft legislation introducing news media bargaining incentive charge
Consultation closes May 18, 2026.
The government released for consultation draft legislation that would introduce the news media bargaining incentive charge (NMI).
The draft legislation includes an administration bill which establishes the framework for the NMI, including the following key elements:
- An entity is liable for the NMI in a financial year if the entity or a member of its group provides a significant social media or internet search service in Australia and the group has consolidated revenue attributable to Australia that exceeds $250 million* for the financial year.
- The amount of NMI an entity is liable for in a financial year is calculated by applying the 2.25% NMI rate to the entity’s consolidated revenue attributable to Australia from the third-most-recent financial year before the financial year of the NMI.
- An entity can offset the NMI liability in a financial year by entering into commercial agreements with Australian news media businesses to produce news content or to use their news content.
According to Treasury, it is part of the government’s plan to support a diverse and sustainable news media sector in Australia and encourages digital platforms to make or renew commercial deals with news media businesses.
The consultation closes May 18, 2026.
*$ = Australian dollar