Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn and other tech companies operating in Australia must now pay levies unless they reach commercial deals with local news publishers. The law, passed by both houses of parliament, requires companies generating over AU$250 million ($178 million) in local advertising revenue to pay 2.75 percent of their local revenues if they fail to secure agreements with at least eight publishers by the end of their annual reporting periods. These agreements must support publishers' news production and offset levy payments.

The levy funds go directly to publishers based on journalist headcount, as the government argues tech platforms benefit from publisher content through engagement and ad revenue. The new law replaces ineffective 2021 rules, which led to Meta temporarily blocking news sharing and later striking deals that expired two years ago. Meta previously employed similar tactics in Canada, blocking news links on Facebook and Instagram.