Stories from Canberra · Australia

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is in Japan to secure fuel supplies. Wong is scheduled to travel to China and South Korea later this week for a series of meetings. These diplomatic efforts precede a visit to Australia by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takahichi next week.

Meta has criticized the Australian federal government for a proposal that would require tech giants to pay for news content on their platforms. The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, stated that news outlets post material voluntarily. Media companies argue Meta generates millions of dollars from content that is not shared with publishers. Communications Minister Annika Wells maintains that platforms must assist in funding news.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated he will work with whoever is confirmed by the US Senate as the next ambassador. Albanese noted the decision rests with the United States. The comment follows discussions regarding the appointment of David Bratt. The Prime Minister expressed no problem working with the individual once confirmed. The segment also mentioned calls for an audit regarding $300 billion in American funding for Ukraine.

Google has rejected a proposed Australian digital services tax scheme, stating the legislation ignores existing commercial agreements with the news industry. The company further claims the proposal misunderstands changes in the advertising market. The legislation would apply to platforms regardless of whether news content is featured on their services. Bruce Welpe from the University of Sydney's U.S. Study Center provided commentary on the matter. It remains uncertain if the levy will be passed due to potential pushback from US President Donald Trump. Trump has pledged to defend American tech platforms against what he describes as discriminatory taxation. Escalation could result in retaliatory trade measures on Australian exports.

Seven-year-old Jefferson Lewis was abducted from a town camp on Saturday. Community volunteers and specialist crews have joined a wide-scale operation to locate the child. The abduction follows the child's recent release from prison.

ACT Brumbies women's coach James Irwin announced the team's Super Rugby squad today. The roster includes Savannah Roberts-Hickling from the Indigenous Pathways Program and Jane Morrison from the local Premier 15s. The competition is scheduled to begin in June. Irwin stated the addition of local talent will bring new energy to the season.

Australia has unveiled draft laws that would charge technology companies including Meta, Google, and TikTok a portion of their revenue. The Australian government announced a bill on April 28 to allow new taxation on IT companies regarding news displayed on social media. The source noted that these developments may begin to be priced into markets by May. Failure to reach such agreements would trigger the mandatory tax on their Australian earnings. The proposed legislation would alternatively impose a tax of approximately 2% on revenues earned by these tech companies within Australia. Alternatively, companies could pay a tax of approximately 2 percent on revenues earned within Australia. The proposal targets technology firms generating more than 150 million euros in annual revenue.

The political opposition in Australia is calling for the federal government to acquire B-21 stealth bombers from the United States. This move is proposed as a stop-gap measure while the country waits for nuclear submarines. The suggestion was made during a discussion regarding national defense capabilities. Australian Defence Minister James Patterson stated that B-21 Raider stealth bombers could serve as a stopgap measure until nuclear-powered submarines are delivered. The B-21 Raiders are currently undergoing testing in the United States. Defence Correspondent Tom Lowry reported from Parliament House that the coalition is evaluating these advanced aircraft to mitigate risks of being left exposed. The Australian Defence Force does not currently operate any similar bombers, according to Patterson.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced at a news conference that funds will be invested into local journalism. He stated that every dollar will be returned to journalists to support newsrooms across the country. Albanese said that the investment is intended to maintain the integrity of the system. Australia serves as a major supplier of natural gas to Japan, which maintains domestic oil stockpiles but remains dependent on the Middle East for crude oil. The announcement aims to demonstrate the strong reciprocal relationship between the two nations. The visit follows discussions regarding Japan's refining industry and energy security. The Australian government is introducing an incentive tax targeting social media platforms that do not sign commercial deals with news organizations.

Former Republican congressman David Bratt has been nominated as the next United States ambassador to Australia. Australian officials noted that having an ambassador with direct access to the President increases Australia's capacity to influence U.S. The appointment comes amid discussions regarding Donald Trump's comments about Australia during the Iran war. The appointment is expected to impact the US-Australia relationship and ongoing AUKUS discussions. The appointment follows standard diplomatic procedures where leaders of both nations select representatives. The role is expected to focus on maintaining the long-term US-Australia relationship and the AUKUS defense agreement. Bratt previously served two terms representing Virginia in Congress until his defeat by a Democrat in 2018.