The short answer

News Journalism Payments Bill 2026: what it proposes

The News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 is a government bill introduced in the House of Representatives on 13 August 2026 by the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells. It would establish the News Journalism Payment Scheme to distribute revenue raised by the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) — a charge on digital platforms, proposed in the News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026, that can be reduced or eliminated through commercial deals with Australian news organisations — to eligible news organisations, supporting the employment of journalists producing core news content. The bill passed both Houses of Parliament on 20 August 2026 and now awaits Royal Assent; it has not yet been enacted.

This is a federal system guide. State constitutions, parliaments and local-government laws can allocate comparable functions differently.

The useful question is not only “what is the rule?” but also “who administers it, which document controls it, and when might it change?” That distinction prevents an accurate general explanation from becoming wrong advice in a particular election, chamber or policy setting.

Evidence review

What the bill would do

The bill would establish the News Journalism Payment Scheme to distribute any revenue raised by the News Bargaining Incentive to eligible news organisations in Australia, supporting the employment of journalists integral to public interest journalism.

The scheme would be administered by the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. The bill confers a range of powers on the Secretary, with nothing in the bill intended to exclude the requirements of procedural fairness that would otherwise apply at law.

The bill has been designed to uphold editorial independence through clear eligibility requirements that minimise discretionary decisions that could interfere with public interest journalism content.

Evidence review

Eligibility and how payments would work

The Australian Communications and Media Authority administers a register of eligible news businesses under the News Media Bargaining Code, and a corporation would need to be registered to apply for a payment under the scheme.

Payments would be based on each corporation's eligible editorial capacity — full-time equivalent editorial workers, including freelancers and volunteers — with weightings for staff servicing regional, rural or diverse communities.

There would be two payment periods each year following collection of NBI revenue, expected to commence each March and September subject to minimum funding being available. The bill sets out application lodgement periods, statements of eligible editorial capacity, and how claims are verified.

Eligible editorial workers are defined in the bill to include eligible freelancers, workers of eligible low-revenue corporations, eligible volunteers and eligible reduced FTE workers, alongside employees in eligible roles.

Evidence review

Why the scheme is proposed

The explanatory memorandum says independent public interest journalism plays a critical role in democratic participation and accountability of government, but is costly to produce, rarely commercially sustainable as a standalone product, and supported by diminishing commercial revenue.

The NBI is intended to incentivise commercial deals between digital platforms and news organisations as envisioned under the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code. Should digital platforms pay the charge instead of making commercial deals, the scheme would distribute the revenue back to Australian journalism transparently and proportionately.

Evidence review

Consultation

From 28 April to 18 May 2026, the Department undertook public consultation on the proposed scheme, covering eligibility criteria, the registration and application process, a funding allocation formula, evidential requirements, and weightings for staff servicing regional, rural or diverse communities.

The Department received 56 submissions, 46 of which were published with stakeholder consent, from news publishers, industry bodies, unions, academics and citizens, and the outcomes informed the scheme's design.

The explanatory memorandum says a diverse media landscape keeps local communities connected, combats mis- and dis-information through trusted news, and supports social cohesion — policy objectives behind tying payments to journalist employment.

Evidence review

Parliamentary status

The bill was presented in the House of Representatives on 13 August 2026 by Ms Wells, read a first time, and the second reading was moved the same day. The bill page records the second reading debate on 18 August 2026 and lists two proposed amendments: a second reading amendment by Melissa McIntosh MP and a crossbench detail amendment by Kate Chaney MP. A correction to the explanatory memorandum has been published.

According to House Live Minutes No. 77, on 19 August 2026 the order of the day was read for further consideration of the bill and a deferred division (standing order 133) was held at 9:02 am as Division 256 on the question that the amendment be agreed to. The House divided 40 to 83 and the amendment was negatived; the debate was then adjourned at 9:09 am by the Attorney-General, Ms Rowland, with resumption made an order of the day for a later hour that day.

The Live Minutes record only the question put and do not name the amendment's mover; the bill page's list of proposed amendments provides context for identifying the mover, but the minutes do not state which amendment was the subject of division 256.

The bill passed both Houses of Parliament on 20 August 2026 and now awaits Royal Assent; it is not yet law and has been removed from the current Bills before Parliament list.

Evidence review

Chamber record cross-check — 19 August 2026

This update cross-checks House Live Minutes No. 77 (Wednesday 19 August 2026, record identifier d227df5ba00788a3) and the APH bill page for the News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 (bill r7528), both checked on 19 August 2026.

Item 3 of the Live Minutes records that the order of the day was read for the further consideration of the bill (see item No. 15, Votes and Proceedings, 18 August 2026), and that a division called for and deferred under standing order 133 was held at 9:02 am on the question "That the amendment be agreed to". Division 256 recorded 40 ayes and 83 noes, and the amendment was negatived. The minutes also record the debate's adjournment at 9:09 am by the Attorney-General, Ms Rowland, with resumption made an order of the day for a later hour that day.

The APH bill page for r7528 records that the bill was introduced and read a first time on 13 August 2026, the second reading moved the same day, a second reading debate on 18 August 2026, a published correction to the explanatory memorandum, and status before the House of Representatives.

House Live Minutes are a draft working record of the chamber, subject to revision before the official Votes and Proceedings and Hansard are published. Neither is final, and the bill has not been enacted.

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer

Who would receive payments under the scheme?

News organisations registered with the ACMA under the News Media Bargaining Code would be able to apply, with payments based on eligible editorial capacity, including full-time equivalent editorial workers, freelancers and volunteers.

Where does the money come from?

The scheme would distribute revenue raised by the News Bargaining Incentive, a charge on large digital platforms proposed in the News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026.

Has the bill become law?

No. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on 13 August 2026; the second reading debate took place on 18 August 2026, and on 19 August the House negatived an amendment by division 256 (40 to 83). It is before the House and has not been enacted.

How is a news organisation's payment calculated?

Each eligible news corporation's payment would be based on eligible editorial capacity — full-time equivalent editorial workers, including freelancers and volunteers — with weightings for small to medium businesses, regional or remote operations, and diverse communities.

What happened in the House on 19 August 2026?

The House read the order of the day for further consideration of the bill and held a deferred division, Division 256, at 9:02 am on the question that the amendment be agreed to. The amendment was negatived, 40 to 83, and the debate was adjourned by the Attorney-General, Ms Rowland, with resumption made an order of the day for a later hour.

Source spine

Primary material used for this guide

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Archive note: This article reviews a government bill introduced on 13 August 2026. After passing both Houses of Parliament on 20 August 2026, the bill has been removed from the current Bills before Parliament list and now awaits Royal Assent; it is not yet law. Descriptions of the scheme, its eligibility rules and the News Bargaining Incentive are based on the explanatory memorandum and companion bills. Readers should check the Parliament of Australia website for the current status.

Primary links are provided without affiliate or tracking parameters. Confirm that the source still applies to the bill, sitting date, jurisdiction or reporting period before relying on it.