The Australian government has introduced a bill to parliament that would require major technology companies to pay media organizations for using their news content. This was announced by the country's Communications Minister, Anika Wells. Under the bill, platforms such as Facebook and TikTok would be required to make deals with at least eight media organizations, as reported by infohub.kz.
Under the new rules, tech giants can offset a maximum of 25% of their levy obligation through each deal. This measure is designed to incentivize agreements with a range of media outlets. Additionally, 5% of the funds will be directed to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the national news agency.
Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino called this a significant day for the future of Australian journalism. He said that agreements between digital platforms and a diverse range of media organizations will ensure fair compensation for the use of content.
Meanwhile, Australia has joined more than 30 nations, including France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, in a joint statement condemning Iran's use of the death penalty. The statement says that Iran is trying to "silence dissent" by executing protesters.
According to the UN, since March 19, at least 56 people have been executed in Iran on national security-related charges, including 27 in cases linked to the protests. The UN and human rights groups have warned about the lack of fair trials and forced confessions.
In Australia, thousands of students are preparing to rally against the policies of Pauline Hanson. Flyers distributed by the National Union of Students include calls to "fight against racism" and "stand up against the far right." Yerin Park, an organizer of the Canberra protest, expressed hope that these protests will be the start of a real movement in Australian society.
In response to the student protests, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, a One Nation MP in the Victorian parliament, said that everyone has the right to protest, but expressed concern about the forces behind the movement. She said that students should focus on their studies, and that the Socialist Party's involvement with students is not the right approach.