Local news and the global fight for our fair share

WHEN people pick up the Surf Coast Times, the Bellarine Times, the Geelong Times and the Armstrong Creek Times, they expect more than just headlines. They expect honest reporting about what is happening in their neighbourhood, from the Surf Coast and Bellarine to Geelong and the wider region. Local papers like ours do more than defend democracy, they live its values every day by earning trust and staying connected to the people they serve.

But that work is under threat when global tech giants profit from sharing our stories without paying their fair share to keep local reporting alive.

That is why Australia’s push to force companies like Google, Meta and TikTok to pay local and regional publishers matters so much in communities across our region. The News Bargaining Incentive would help ensure local papers, including this one, are not left carrying the cost while international platforms pocket the profit.
Last week, Canada scrapped its own digital services tax after Donald Trump threatened tariffs in retaliation. The backdown made headlines worldwide and sparked fears Australia’s plan might face similar pressure.

But the powerful US tech lobby has made it clear that Australia’s approach is different, and less likely to attract the same backlash. Unlike a broad digital services tax, Australia’s measure is focused on making Big Tech fairly compensate local newsrooms for the trusted reporting our towns rely on.

The Computer and Communications Industry Association, which represents Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook owner Meta, told The Australian Financial Review that while Australia’s scheme is still on their radar, it is not seen as a direct attack like Canada’s tax was. That is reassuring for local publishers working to keep journalists in work and trusted news in towns such as Torquay, Drysdale, Winchelsea, and the small rural communities that depend on fair and accurate local coverage.

Meta has already walked away from paying for Australian news, while Google has kept up agreements covering more than 200 outlets. But the risk remains that without strong laws, tech companies could stop paying any time, leaving local papers, and the communities they serve, worse off.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out backing down during trade talks, and Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino says the new law is still a “key priority” for the government.

Under the plan, any platform that refuses to pay would face a new charge worth hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Those that strike fair deals with local publishers can offset that charge, giving them a clear incentive to support trusted local news instead of fighting it.

Former ACCC chair Rod Sims says Australia must stand by its own laws, describing this as vital for a healthy democracy. That is especially true in towns like ours, where local papers are often the only connection people have to independent information about what is really happening in their own backyard.

Local papers like ours have a responsibility not just to exist, but to earn and keep trust. We do this by being present in the community, asking tough questions, celebrating local wins, telling uncomfortable truths and giving people a place to feel heard, whether that is in Lorne, Lara, or any of our surrounding towns.

As the government prepares to release its long-awaited consultation paper, local publishers will be watching closely. Because when it comes to holding Big Tech accountable, this fight is about more than just billion-dollar companies or trade deals. It is about whether our region keeps its local stories, its local voice and its local trust.

James Taylor
Editor
Surf Coast Times, Bellarine Times, Geelong Times, Armstrong Creek Times