The News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code is world-first legislation intended to address the market power imbalance between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms.
A Bill to implement the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code was introduced to the House of Representatives in December, 2020. The Bill was then referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report. The Code came into effect on 2 March 2021.
PIJI led a collaborative joint project with the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNI) that included various consultations and submissions during the legislation’s development:
- Submission to the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2021, January 2021.
- Submission to the Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2020 (Exposure Draft), August 2020.
- Submission to the Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code Concepts Paper, June 2020.
PIJI has recommended complementary policy measures to sit alongside the Code including tax rebates and philanthropic incentives for public interest journalism.