News Media Bargaining (Administration) Bill 2026

Ms WELLS (Lilley—Minister for Sport and Minister for Communications) (12:02): The government doesn't support the amendments proposed by the member for Fowler for similar reasons, which I won't relitigate, as for the amendments by the member for Curtin. I'll note that the member for Fowler said this is a small change, and I think that's the point. It would have a sizeable impact on the balance of the deal that has been struck here between continued provision of trusted public-interest journalism with employment of journalists in Australia and the small and regional publishers.

In expanding the bill to eight commercial agreements to entice deals, we are doing what every single publisher who has come through my door and through the Assistant Treasurer's door—including LINA and the small and special interest group publishers—has asked, which is that the first priority of this be for deals to be struck. That is what we are trying to achieve, and this work is supposed to be the back-up if that doesn't work.

So we believe that we have struck the right balance here and we will not be supporting the amendments. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Buchholz ): The question is that the amendments moved by the honourable member for Fowler be agreed to.