CPA president Damian Morgan acknowledged the government’s constructive engagement with the regional news sector through the policy development process.
“This is fundamentally about fairness, but it is also about truth, facts and the future of informed communities,” he said.
“Professional journalism costs money to produce. Large digital platforms derive value from that journalism, but they do not employ the local reporters, editors and photographers who create it.
“The News Bargaining Incentive is designed to encourage fair commercial agreements so Australian journalism can remain sustainable.”
The proposed legislation builds on the News Media Bargaining Code introduced by the former Coalition government, which established the important principle that global technology platforms should contribute to the cost of the news content from which they benefit.
The government’s leadership has been bipartisan, and CPA is calling for the same spirit of cross-party support to continue.
“Every community deserves access to reliable, professionally produced information,” Mr Morgan said.
“Every community deserves journalists who are prepared to ask questions, check facts, attend meetings, report decisions and give local people a voice.”
CPA acknowledged the contribution technology companies have made to modern life, including connectivity, commerce, search, social connection and access to information.
It also recognised that Google has continued to engage constructively with Australian news publishers and has shown that commercial agreements between global technology companies and Australian media businesses are possible.
Accept responsibility
Mr Morgan said engagement with Australian news outlets should not just fall on Google’s responsibility.
“All major digital platforms that derive value from Australian journalism must accept their responsibility,” he said.
“No company should be able to benefit from the credibility, relevance and public value of professional news while avoiding a fair contribution to the cost of producing it.”
Mr Morgan said it was important the final legislation encouraged genuine commercial deals and did not create an incentive for platforms to reduce, remove or downgrade access to Australian news.
“Reliable news must remain visible and accessible to Australians,” he said. “The answer cannot be for platforms to avoid responsibility by making trusted news harder to find. At a time of rising misinformation, Australians need more access to facts, not less.”
Mr Morgan said the issue was especially important for regional and rural Australia, where news media was often the only professional source of verified local information.
“Regional Australians must not be treated as an afterthought,” Mr Morgan said.
“Our members are often the only professional news media voice in their communities. They are the ones making sure regional people are seen, heard and understood.”
CPA members, including The Weekly Advertiser, form the largest regional digital news publishing network in Australia.
They reach millions of Australians across digital and print each day, and publish more than 1000 news stories online every day, produced by local journalists who live in, understand and are accountable to the communities they serve.
Country Press Australia members cover councils, courts, emergency services, schools, sport, agriculture, local business, community groups and the decisions that affect people’s everyday lives.
Mr Morgan said in many communities, if journalists did not record, question, explain and publish on local issues, often no one else was there to do so.
“Without local news media, communities lose more than a publication or a website. They lose a trusted public record. They lose scrutiny of local decision making. They lose a place where facts are checked, rumours are challenged and local stories are told with care and accountability,” he said.
CPA urged Parliament to pass legislation that delivers fair, practical and lasting outcomes for eligible Australian news publishers of all sizes.
The entire May 6, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
