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Labor aims for news incentive solution before big Google deals expire

Major publishing deals struck with Google in 2021 are set to begin expiring from April next year. The Albanese government has told some executives it aims to finalise the policy by then.

John Buckley
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Media companies have come under mounting pressure to secure a result from the government, as the clock winds down on a tranche of Google’s deals with major publishers, which are due to expire from April next year. AAP/Lukas Coch.

Labor officials working on the government's stalled news bargaining incentive have told media executives they want the policy to be finalised before Google's deals with Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media expire in the first-half of 2026.

Executives from Australia's largest media companies have been in close contact with the government in recent weeks amid concerns the policy, which would compel tech giants to pay publishers to display their news content, has been put on the back-burner due to concerns about retaliation from the Trump administration.

But senior media figures were this week advised the government is hoping to finalise the policy within nine months, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential information.

Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino, who is leading Labor’s work on the incentive, has further told some media executives that a discussion paper on the policy could be distributed within weeks, one of the people said.