National rejects Aussie tech tax to fund media

RNZ reports:

The National Party says the Australian government’s push to make Google share royalties with news publishers is too heavy-handed.

Australia is introducing a landmark law to make Google, Facebook and potentially other tech companies pay media outlets for their news content.

But Google has hit back saying it could withdraw the search engine from Australia.

The Australian proposed law is basically legalised extortion where successful Internet companies will be forced to prop up failing media companies.

National’s spokesperson for digital economy and communications Melissa Lee said the Australian model is far too heavy-handed and has chilling connotations as to how other future technological innovations could be affected for the market here.

Good to see National rule this out here. But will Labour?