But there's a glaring omission in the new laws ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

One morning in February 2021, Australians opened their Facebook and Instagram feeds to get their daily news fix only to find no news at all. Meta, the platforms’ parent company, had blocked many news accounts (plus a lot of other accounts) to protest the government’s attempt to make tech companies pay for the news they use.

Despite the temporary news blackout, Meta and Google ended up signing onto the laws, called the news media bargaining code. News outlets struck deals with tech companies worth millions of dollars to help fund newsroom jobs and operations. But by 2025, the deals weren’t renewed, leaving media outlets back at square one.

Now the government has tabled replacement laws, this time called the News Bargaining Incentive. If tech companies don’t make ongoing deals with at least eight news outlets, they must pay a fee. Revenue generated through the scheme will fund journalism.

As Caroline Fisher and Sora Park write, the new legislation brings many benefits for newsrooms. But it’s far from perfect, especially because it notably excludes AI companies, which are increasingly providing Australians with their daily dose of headlines.

Erin Cooper-Douglas

Public Policy Editor

New laws to make tech companies pay for news will help, but there are 4 key problems

Caroline Fisher, University of Canberra; Sora Park, University of Canberra

While setting up new revenue streams for struggling newsrooms is a welcome move, the laws themselves are far from perfect.

Why the $2.5 billion Tomago aluminium deal is no ordinary bailout

Roy Green, University of Technology Sydney

The government’s approach to saving Tomago offers a blueprint for other interventions to future-proof industry, such as at Whyalla.

Why Meta is paying for controversial content – and what that means for the posts you see

Toija Cinque, Deakin University

Paying for engaging content is not the same as intending to fund extremism, but it creates a risk that harmful content will benefit.

Grattan on Friday: Albanese doesn’t believe in admitting he’s stuffed up, and it costs him

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas flourishes where Albanese flounders.

Friday essay: we’re all ‘political’ now – but can that lead to real change?

Intifar Chowdhury, Flinders University

In our age of ‘hyperpolitics’, what does meaningful change look like? Anton Jäger’s buzzy new book has some answers – but could go harder on neoliberalism.

The Coalition wants to see more Indigenous students go to private schools. Is this a smart idea?

Jessa Rogers, The University of Melbourne

The Coalition wants to looks at ‘what works’ in Indigenous education and ‘roll it out more broadly’ .

Pauline Hanson calls Australia ‘Judeo-Christian’. But the term is a meaningless modern invention

Philip C. Almond, The University of Queensland

There is no such thing as ‘Judeo-Christian values’. The term hides essential differences between Judaism and Christianity.

Two subsea cables off Perth suffer ‘concerning’ damage. Lasers could help protect them

Bill Corcoran, Monash University; Allison Kealy, Swinburne University of Technology; Arnan Mitchell, RMIT University; Luke H. Broadley, RMIT University

Australia’s access to the global internet depends on a surprisingly small number of undersea cables.

Storms of dust and sand are another sign our climate is changing. Two experts explain

Tegan Clark, Australian National University; Isabelle Finlay, Loughborough University

These fine particles can do significant harm to transport networks, farming and even human health.

Politics + Society

As Brisbane 2032 gets closer, Australian girls are quitting organised sports. What can be done?

Alexander Rolfe Best, Edith Cowan University

Girls who are 15 now will be about 21 when Brisbane 2032 rolls around. But many will have walked away from sports by then.
The media has made Donald Trump look more coherent than he is. It’s called ‘sanewashing’

Stephen Harrington, Queensland University of Technology; Ella Chorazy, Queensland University of Technology; Timothy Graham, Queensland University of Technology

The US president often provides meandering non-answers and strange speeches, but news reports omit the weirdness. Does it matter?
Why does it feel like the US and Iran are stuck in an endless conflict loop?

Jessica Genauer, UNSW

Neither side can stomach a strategic defeat. Nor can they find a way to an exit ramp.

Health + Medicine

Trauma can trigger psychosis – and talk therapy can help treat both

Leila Jameel, Swinburne University of Technology; Ngoc Anh Do, Swinburne University of Technology; Rachel Brand, University of the Sunshine Coast

Psychosis is not a diagnosis. It’s a cluster of symptoms that affect how you think and perceive reality.
Could saunas and ice baths affect male fertility? Here’s what the evidence says

Hoani Smith, Lincoln University, New Zealand; Conrad Goodhew, University of Canterbury

Online wellness trends claim saunas and cold plunges can boost male fertility. The evidence tells a more nuanced story – and some claims don’t stack up.
A new ADHD drug targets three brain chemicals instead of two. Here’s what that means

Jack Janetzki, Adelaide University ; Lisa Kalisch Ellett, Adelaide University

Along with dopamine and noradrenaline, this new drug also impacts levels of serotonin.

Education

‘No, I want Mum!’ Does it feel like your child has a favourite parent?

Tianyi Ma, The University of Queensland

It’s okay if a child occasionally chooses one parent over the other. What matters more is whether the child has reliable relationships with both parents.
NZ wants a high-tech future. Its proposed physics curriculum may make that harder

Ashton Bradley, University of Otago

The government wants a knowledge-rich physics curriculum, but packing in too many topics without a clear order could backfire.

Environment + Energy
Safe havens protect Australian mammals from invasive predators. Why aren’t they working for other animal groups? John Gould, University of Newcastle Fenced-off safe havens and islands free from cats and foxes have given endangered mammals breathing space. But they’re not yet helping many other groups of animals.

Science + Technology
Regional and rural Australians ‘left behind’ by telco services – new report Mark A Gregory, RMIT University The telecommunications ombudsman has recommended ‘an overhaul of how telecommunications services are regulated’.

Arts + Culture
Break of Day’s tribute to invisible labour of working-class Australians is ultimately disappointing Kate Hunter, Deakin University In Steve Rodgers’ new play, now at Malthouse, solid performances are undermined by expository writing.

Your Say

I totally agree that anyone, including students, should have the right to protest whatever they like. However, why not do it on a Saturday? School is compulsory after all, and students need to get an education, not an indoctrination by the National Union of Students. The union should make their underlying political leanings clear. Students should be getting an education that fairly and in an unbiased way looks at both sides of the political spectrum.

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Karen Galvin

Politics + Society

Health + Medicine

Education

Environment + Energy

Science + Technology

Arts + Culture

Your Say