‘No guarantees’ media bill will progress before end of the year, says minister

Thursday, 12 December 2024

Expectations are receding that the Government might nail down details of a bill providing a lifeline to the media this month.

Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith is no longer signalling he expects to reintroduce the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill this year.

Goldsmith told The Post the Government was working as fast as it could and doing “the best we can” on the legislation which would provide a funding lifeline for struggling media firms, but there were no guarantees on timing.

Labour broadcasting spokesperson Willie Jackson said the delay was disappointing and offered his services as a negotiator with Google.

“It’s just been a constant strategy of putting things off,” Jackson said.

The bill, introduced by the former government, would force internet giants including Google and Meta to agree licensing deals with the media on terms that could ultimately be determined by regulators.

Officials have assumed that would provide media organisations with an annual income stream of at least $40 million to help offset the impact of a loss of advertising to the internet.

Goldsmith took over the portfolio in April, replacing former minister Melissa Lee who admitted to being “a little slow” to drum up a policy response to a series of newsroom cutbacks earlier in the year.

ACT says it's invoked the ‘agree to disagree’ provisions of the coalition agreement, opposing the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill.

In July, Goldsmith promised to enact the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, initially saying the Government intended to have the regime in place by the end of the year, while making clear it intended to consider some changes.

Google has been playing hard ball, threatening to block media content from its search results if the bill isn’t changed more to its liking.

One of its demands is believed to be cap on any money it would be expected to pay.

But, up until now, Goldsmith had maintained he intended to at least bring the bill back to Parliament for a further reading by the close of the year.

He now appears to be acknowledging time might be too short.

On Tuesday, the Government introduced a bill that would enable television broadcasters to show adverts on Sundays and public holidays, while leaving the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill sitting 13th on its order paper which sets out parliamentary business.

The Government would need to rely on Opposition votes to pass the media bargaining bill, given the ACT Party has promised to oppose it.

Jackson said Goldsmith called him a couple of days ago to seek Labour’s support for the Sunday advertising bill because of NZ First’s opposition.

He had agreed and Labour would also keep supporting the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, so long as it did provide meaningful financial support to the media, he said.

Jackson advised Goldsmith “not to buckle to these big companies” such as Google, and told him “you knew they were going to have a crack at you; we all knew threats were going to come about pulling the business from New Zealand”, he said.

Labour media and broadcasting spokesperson Willie Jackson says the Government may need to “show fortitude”.

“We have to show some fortitude as a country and as a government and sometimes we have to take a risk.”

Labour would not necessarily object to ministers getting the power to designate platforms that would be covered by the legislation, and would be open to a cap on payments, he said.

“We don't really have any bottom lines. We just want this thing to roll out.”

Goldsmith said he intended to consult with Labour on its plan “eventually”.

Jackson offered to help Goldsmith negotiate a deal with Google to expedite matters.

“It wouldn't cost the Government anything. I was a union negotiator for 17 years and a Māori negotiator for many years,” Jackson said.

“I think it just requires someone to say ‘what do you want to put on the table? Well, actually, this would be fair given your revenue’.”