John Buckley

Meta says parents, teens show ‘little interest’ in social media ban compliance Meta says that it is already seeing compliance issues arise on the first day of the Albanese government’s under-16 teen social media ban, including “little interest” in compliance from parents and tee...

Meta says parents, teens show ‘little interest’ in social media ban compliance www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/met...

Crikey journalists seal 4% annual pay rises, AI protections in new deal Crikey publisher Private Media has struck a three-year pay deal with staff that will see journalists at the company receive annual pay rises of 4% and assurances around the use of AI at the company.

Crikey publisher Private Media has struck a three-year pay deal with staff that will see journalists at the company receive annual pay rises of 4% and assurances around the use of AI at the company www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/cri...

Labor strikes deal with Greens to pass streaming quotas through Senate The deal will secure extra funding for the ABC and delivers passage of Labor's heavily contested new streaming regulation amid mounting scrutiny from the Trump administration.

News: Labor strikes deal with the Greens to pass streaming quotas through Senate www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...

Behind closed doors, Trump administration pushes back on Labor’s streaming quotas The US Embassy has directly raised concerns about the policy in Canberra, raising the stakes for the Albanese government as it pursues an aggressive tech reform agenda.

Scoop: Behind closed doors, Trump administration pushes back on Labor’s streaming quotas www.capitalbrief.com/article/behi...

Coalition mulls US free trade deal risks over streaming quotas The Albanese government streaming quotas face scrutiny in the Senate, and potentially an inquiry, following a tepid response from the Coalition, Greens and at least one independent.

New: Coalition mulls US free trade deal risks over streaming quotas www.capitalbrief.com/article/coal...

Katherine Keating's messages with Jeffrey Epstein revealed in new cache of emails A brief email exchange included in documents released by the US House Oversight Committee reveal Keating and Epstein were in direct contact in late 2011.

New: Katherine Keating, the daughter of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating, exchanged a string of emails with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, new documents show www.capitalbrief.com/article/kath...

Paging Dr Hugh ABC boss Hugh Marks walked away from his first Senate Estimates appearance largely unscathed. But criticism arrived when his partner was appointed to the board of a betting firm.

ABC boss Hugh Marks has drawn criticism for the appointment of his partner, Alexi Baker, to the board of the gambling firm, Betr. ABC chairman Kim Williams told me the criticism is sexist. www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/p...

Google, Microsoft officially urge Australia to relax copyright laws to aid AI Two of the world's largest tech giants have called for Australia to relax copyright laws to bolster their artificial intelligence platforms.

New: Google, Microsoft officially urge Australia to relax copyright laws to aid AI www.capitalbrief.com/article/goog...

News Corp discredits AI payment talks between ACTU, Tech Council The media conglomerate has raised doubts over the talks, insisting that Australian copyright laws already require AI firms to and should not be changed.

New: News Corp has moved to discredit a “breakthrough” between the Australian Council of Trade Unions and Tech Council of Australia on the hotly contested issue of AI firms paying creators for the use of their content www.capitalbrief.com/article/news...

ABC management want a new "impartiality obligation" in staff contracts as part of their EBA negotiations www.capitalbrief.com...

ABC floats ‘impartiality’ clause in pay deal talks with staff The proposal has been interpreted by unions as a move to prevent staff from speaking publicly on controversial issues following the Antoinette Lattouf matter.

New: ABC management has floated the idea of forcing staff to abide by an “impartiality obligation” in wage negotiations, in a move interpreted by union representatives as an effort to prevent a repeat of the Antoinette Lattouf matter (no paywall) www.capitalbrief.com/article/abc-...

Google strikes AI deal with AAP as chair departs Google has struck a new deal with the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that will see the newswire’s journalism help drive results surfaced in the search giant’s AI app, Gemini.

Google has struck a new deal with the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that will see the newswire’s journalism help drive results surfaced in the search giant’s AI app, Gemini (no paywall) www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/goo...

ABC MD Hugh Marks privately warns of AI threat ahead of looming roundtable The ABC chief signalled it will pursue government intervention to secure payments from AI companies, amid broader warning on threats to the media sector.

New: ABC MD Hugh Marks privately warns of AI threat ahead of looming roundtable www.capitalbrief.com/article/abc-...

Seven CEO Jeff Howard slams AI firms for ‘theft’ of content The Seven West Media boss condemned AI firms for using content without pay, urging government action amid a wider industry backlash.

New: Seven CEO Jeff Howard slams AI firms for ‘theft’ of content www.capitalbrief.com/article/seve...

Seven West Media reports 62% profit slide amid soft ad market Seven West Media has reported a 62% full-year profit slide, despite second-half earnings growth, amid ongoing weakness in the free-to-air television market.

Seven West Media reports 62% profit slide amid soft ad market www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/sev...

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Meta dismisses leaks suggesting its AI scraped Australian news sites The ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald, and some of News Corp’s assets were included in a list of sites that were allegedly scraped by Meta for the benefit of its AI models.

New: Meta dismisses leaks suggesting its AI scraped Australian news sites www.capitalbrief.com/article/meta...

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Albanese announces Australia will recognise Palestinian state Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce his plan to recognise a Palestinian state in the coming days.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at next month’s United Nations General Assembly www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/aus...

🏠 Florance vs the machine Andy Florance’s $3 billion Domain bid sets the stage for a high-stakes clash with REA Group, as both prepare for sweeping leadership changes.

From last night's newsletter:

- The real estate clash set to find another gear
- The leading contenders to become the ABC’s chief digital political corro
- Nine to broadcast three EPL games on FTA
- ARN's upfront cash splash

www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/f...

Cash for access: The private meetings earning Labor millions Ministers are blocking access to diary entries that show when and where they attended meetings and meals facilitated by Labor’s fundraising program.

Cash for access: The meetings earning Labor millions the government wants to keep private #auspol #aubiz www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Labor aims for news incentive solution before big Google deals expire Major publishing deals struck with Google in 2021 are set to begin expiring from April next year. The Albanese government has told some executives it aims to finalise the policy by then.

New: Labor officials working on the government's stalled news bargaining incentive have told media executives they want the policy to be finalised before Google's deals with Nine Entertainment and Seven West Media expire in the first-half of 2026 www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...

ARN mulls national expansion plans for Kyle and Jackie O Show The ASX-listed radio company is discussing plans, which are not yet final, to expand the show to Brisbane from next year, as part of a longer-term plan to take the show national.

New: ARN is discussing plans to expand the Kyle and Jackie O Show to Brisbane from next year, as part of a longer-term plan to take the show national www.capitalbrief.com/article/arn-...

💼 Lachlan’s lawsuits Lachlan Murdoch is set to have a hand in shaping News Corp’s response to Trump, all while preparing for a fresh legal showdown over the Murdoch family trust in October.

Lachlan Murdoch is set to have a hand in shaping News Corp’s response to Trump’s US$10bn defamation bid, all while preparing for a fresh legal showdown over the Murdoch family trust in October. Plus more news in this week’s newsletter: www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/l...

The Guardian’s revenue from readers hits 55% in Australia The British news publisher, which is known for giving its journalism away for free, generated $15.3 million in subscription revenue in Australia over the last year.

New: The Guardian’s revenue from readers hits 55% in Australia www.capitalbrief.com/article/the-...

Google strikes cut-price deals with digital publishers amid regulatory delays The tech giant has struck deals with Schwartz Media, Mamamia, Australian Community Media, and Junkee among others. But some have seen their deal values shrink.

New: Google has reached new commercial agreements with Schwartz Media, Mamamia, Australian Community Media, and Junkee among others. But some have seen their deal values shrink www.capitalbrief.com/article/goog...

Network 10 and Sky News strike fresh regional TV deal Network 10 and Sky News Australia have struck a new deal that will see the News Corp-controlled pay TV network broadcast to select regional markets for at least another two years.

Network 10 and Sky News strike fresh regional TV deal www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/net...

TikTok hunts for new policy boss amid fight over Labor’s social media ban The short form video platform has canvassed prospective candidates to lead its local policy operation in Australia, as part of a wider reshuffle of its local leadership team.

New: TikTok hunts for new policy boss amid fight over Labor’s social media ban www.capitalbrief.com/article/tikt...

Trump appoints Nick Adams former Young Liberal as US ambassador to Malaysia Self described 'alpha male' Nick Adams' rise in Trumpland has been described as '"deeply silly [and] extremely serious'".

Trump has appointed a former Young Liberal as the US ambassador to Malaysia www.capitalbrief.com/article/trum...

Spotify global exec warns Labor's quotas threaten Aussie music exports Sulinna Ong, global head of editorial at Spotify, says plans by Arts Minister Tony Burke for quotas on music could backfire and hurt the artists they're meant to help.

New: Spotify’s top global editorial executive has warned that plans by the Australian government to impose local audio streaming quotas could trigger a global arms race that stifles the ability of local artists to reach global listeners www.capitalbrief.com/article/spot...