Google says it will keep talking with publishers despite the federal government moving to force digital platforms to pay for news.
The digital giant says it has engaged with more than 25 Australian publishers since February to get input on a voluntary code and worked to the timetable and process set out by the competition regulator, the ACCC.
“We've worked for many years to be a collaborative partner to the news industry, helping them grow their businesses through ads and subscription services and increase audiences by driving valuable traffic," says a Google spokesperson.
"We have sought to work constructively with industry, the ACCC and government to develop a code of conduct, and we will continue to do so in the revised process set out by the covernment today.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says there's been "no meaningful progress" in talks between premium content publishers and the digital platforms on a voluntary code.
"It is only fair that the search engines and social media giants pay for the original news content that they use to drive traffic to their sites," he says.
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