The short answer

News Journalism Payments (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2026: what it proposes

The News Journalism Payments (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2026 is a government bill introduced in the House of Representatives on 13 August 2026 by the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells. It accompanies the News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 and provides for consequential amendments to Part IVBA (Division 3) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 that are necessary because of the creation of the News Journalism Payment Scheme and its eligibility requirements. The bill would require the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to notify the Secretary of the department administering the scheme of specified events occurring in relation to registered news businesses and registered news business corporations, which is pertinent to assessing eligibility and entitlement to a share of funds under the scheme. As introduced, the bill was read a first time on 13 August 2026 and the second reading was moved the same day, with debate adjourned. 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 make consequential amendments to Part IVBA (Division 3) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, which contains the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code framework and the register of news businesses administered by the ACMA.

The explanatory memorandum states the bill would require the ACMA to notify the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts of specified events occurring in relation to registered news businesses and registered news business corporations. This information is pertinent to the assessment of eligibility and entitlement to a share of funds under the News Journalism Payment Scheme for each payment period.

The amendments are limited to the machinery needed to connect the ACMA's register of news businesses under the Code with the eligibility and entitlement rules of the new payment scheme. The explanatory memorandum describes the bill as machinery in nature, which means it is not intended to change the substantive operation of the mandatory bargaining framework itself, only to enable the flow of registration information needed to administer payments.

Evidence review

The News Journalism Payment Scheme

The bill accompanies the News Journalism Payments Bill 2026, which would establish a statutory payment scheme to distribute any revenue raised by the News Bargaining Incentive (NBI) to eligible news organisations in Australia.

The NBI would be a charge paid by digital platforms that can be reduced or eliminated through certain expenditure arising from commercial deals with Australian news organisations, creating an incentive for platforms to enter into commercial deals directly with news organisations. The funding would support a sustainable, diverse and independent news sector and the employment of journalists producing core news content.

Evidence review

Background: the News Media Bargaining Code

The News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code commenced on 3 March 2021. The Code aimed to address the bargaining power imbalances between large digital platforms and Australian news organisations identified by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in its final report on the Digital Platforms Inquiry in 2019.

On 12 December 2024, the Government committed to introducing the NBI to incentivise digital platforms to renew or enter into commercial deals as envisioned under the Code. The explanatory memorandum states the NBI is designed to ensure that large digital platforms continue to contribute to the sustainability of Australian news and journalism.

Evidence review

Consultation and financial impact

From 28 April to 18 May 2026, the Department undertook public consultation on a proposed statutory payment scheme, including proposed eligibility criteria, registration and application process, a formula for allocating funding, evidential requirements, and weightings for staff servicing regional, rural or diverse communities. The Department received 56 submissions, 46 of which were published on its website where consent was provided.

The explanatory memorandum states the bill is machinery in nature and is not expected to have any significant impact on Commonwealth expenditure, and that the Office of Impact Analysis advised that an Impact Analysis is not required for the News Journalism Payments Scheme.

The consultation process is relevant to the consequential bill because the eligibility framework it supports — registered news businesses and their corporate structures — was refined through the consultation. The Department also consulted broadly across relevant Commonwealth departments on the draft legislation, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Finance, Treasury, the Attorney-General's Department, and the Australian Taxation Office.

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, with the debate adjourned and its resumption made an order of the day for the next sitting.

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

Common questions

Before you rely on the answer

What is the News Journalism Payment Scheme?

It is a proposed statutory payment scheme, established by the News Journalism Payments Bill 2026, to distribute revenue raised by the News Bargaining Incentive to eligible Australian news organisations. This bill makes consequential amendments to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to support its administration.

What is the News Bargaining Incentive?

The News Bargaining Incentive is a proposed charge on large digital platforms, set out in the News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026, that can be reduced or eliminated through certain commercial deals with Australian news organisations.

Has the bill become law?

No. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on 13 August 2026, read a first time, and the second reading was moved with debate adjourned. It is before the House and has not been enacted.

Why is a separate consequential bill needed?

The News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 establishes the payment scheme, but the register of news businesses and the definitional framework for registered news businesses sit in Part IVBA of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. This bill makes the targeted amendments to that Act so the ACMA can notify the scheme administrator of registration events needed to assess eligibility.

Does the bill change the News Media Bargaining Code?

No. The bill is described in the explanatory memorandum as machinery in nature and is not expected to have any significant impact on Commonwealth expenditure or on the substantive operation of the Code. It supports the administration of the new payment scheme.

Source spine

Primary material used for this guide

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Archive note: This article reviews a government bill that was introduced on 13 August 2026 and passed 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 and the News Bargaining Incentive are based on the explanatory memorandum and the 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.