Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed comments in response to the Australian Treasury’s Consultation on the design of the News Bargaining Incentive. The filing responds to the consultation questions that address the structural, definitional, and economic flaws of this approach, emphasizing that the proposed framework fails to account for the evolving global news landscape and shifting consumer preferences.
CCIA’s comments highlight how the incentive doubles down on an ineffective and limited policy, and operates as a discriminatory tax, despite the Australian government’s position that it is “not intended to raise revenue for the Government.” The comments emphasize that the framework is fundamentally misdirected and harmful, and no set of definitions, thresholds, data sources, or other mechanisms can cure its core defect.
The proposal also risks chilling innovation and investment within Australia’s digital ecosystem, and offers no principled foundation for supporting public-interest journalism. The Association urges the Australian Government not to proceed with the proposed incentive.
The following quote may be attributed to Tricia McCleary, CCIA’s Media Advocacy Manager:
“Australia’s proposed News Bargaining Incentive would impose significant compliance burdens and institute arbitrary price regulation over commercial negotiation, and greatly misunderstands market relationships. Any public policy approach intended to support local journalism should be transparent, non-discriminatory, and technology-neutral.”
