澳大利亚政府公布了新闻议价激励立法的最新规定，要求谷歌、Meta、TikTok和LinkedIn等数字平台要么与新闻出版商达成协议，要么缴纳更高的税收。[1][2]根据修订方案，这些平台的最高税率从2.25%上升至2.5%。[2]平台需要与至少6家媒体机构达成协议才能完全减免税收，相比草案中的4家有所提高。[1][2]
政府在业界咨询后调整了多项规则，包括将应税范围改为数字广告收入而非总收入。[1]与大型媒体公司的协议可抵销150%的负债，与小型公司的协议可抵销200%。[2]该法案适用于国内收入达2.5亿澳元或以上的科技公司。[2]Microsoft曾于2025年3月游说政府豁免LinkedIn和Bing，但目前仅Bing因澳洲数字广告收入未达2.5亿澳元门槛而保留豁免资格。[1]
代理财政部长丹尼尔·穆利诺表示，"澳大利亚新闻对于正常运作的民主制度很重要，我们希望它现在和未来都能持续发展"。[2]政府计划在春季议会复会时推动该法案立法。[2]
Australia's government has unveiled revised details of its news media bargaining incentive legislation, making the terms significantly more stringent for major technology platforms.[1][2] The updated framework requires Google, Meta, TikTok, and LinkedIn to either reach agreements with at least six news publishers or face a tax of 2.5 percent on their Australian digital advertising revenue.[1][2] This represents an increase from the previous threshold of four publishers and a rise in the tax rate from 2.25 percent.[1][2]
The legislation applies to platforms with domestic revenue exceeding AUD 250 million.[2] Under the revised scheme, agreements with major media companies now offset 150 percent of tax liability, while those with smaller publishers offset 200 percent—both adjustments from the previous 170 percent rate.[2] The calculation basis has also shifted from total revenue to digital advertising revenue specifically.[1] Microsoft previously lobbied the government in March 2025 for exemptions covering LinkedIn and Bing; however, Bing retains its exemption because its Australian digital advertising revenue falls below the AUD 250 million threshold.[1]
Acting Treasurer Daniel Mulino stated that Australian news is "important for a functioning democracy" and the government wants it to "continue to thrive now and in the future."[2] He affirmed that the legislative modifications do not alter the legislation's underlying intent.[1] The government plans to introduce the legislation when parliament returns in spring.[2]