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Good morning!
In today's 2-minute section, we report on the Government's announcement that it will require large digital platforms to pay Australian news publishers for journalism posted to their platforms.
It's significant news, and depending on how social media companies respond, it could impact TDA – either positively or negatively.
But before we get to that, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone reading this. Being able to deliver our journalism directly to your inbox, without any algorithms getting in the way, is a true privilege. The fact that you're here means you're directly supporting our work. So, thank you!
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “We believe that there are members of the community that absolutely know where Jefferson Lewis is… Tell us what you know. Tell us where he is. Tell us how to contact him... If you are withholding information because you are frightened, please have confidence that we will treat that information sensitively". Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole appealing for information to aid the search for five-year-old girl Sharon Granites, who police believe was abducted by 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis. She was reported missing from her home in Alice Springs early on Sunday.
The stat: 11 hours and 51 minutes. The length of time it took Andy Donaldson to swim the length of WA’s Ord River (55km), which is home to thousands of freshwater crocodiles. The ultramarathon swimmer broke the record for the 'Dam to Dam challenge', set by Simone Blaser in 2024 (16 hours and 13 minutes).
The big question:
Do you think of reading glasses as a medical device or a fashion accessory?
Yesterday’s results: Yesterday’s poll was a tight contest. When asked who should be responsible when AI makes a mistake that affects someone, 37% of you said responsibility should sit with both the company and the person equally. 12% said no one should be responsible — arguing it's a new problem without clear rules yet. [1,841 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
A second man has been charged over an incident where he allegedly mimicked the Bondi massacre and abused bystanders. Police were called to a footbridge at Bondi Beach on 31 January after reports two men were making racist remarks. One was allegedly seen posing like he was holding a gun, pretending to fire upon people near the bridge. The 23-year-old was arrested that week, and sentenced to 12 months jail after pleading guilty to multiple offensive behaviour and intimidation charges. A second 23-year-old has now been arrested on similar charges. He was granted bail and is due in court next month. The incident came just seven weeks after two gunmen opened fire on a beachside Hanukkah celebration from the same bridge, killing 15 people.
The U.S. communications regulator has ordered a review of Disney’s broadcast TV licences amid White House criticism of Jimmy Kimmel. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have called for the late-night host to be fired following a sketch parodying the White House Correspondents' Dinner which aired on Thursday. Kimmel joked that Melania had the “glow of an expectant widow,” two days before the couple were rushed from the event following an assassination attempt. Trump previously called for Kimmel to be sacked for his comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on the Disney-owned ABC network. Eight ABC stations are now being reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Disney said it has a “long record” of compliance with FCC rules. The FCC has not revoked a broadcast licence in more than four decades, and any attempt to do so would require a court hearing.
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I’ve got 1 minute
Inflation has increased to a near three-year high, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced.
Prices rose by 4.6% in the year to March, driven largely by the surging cost of fuel brought on by the conflict in the Middle East.
Petrol prices increased by 33% in March, following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S-Israeli attacks.
It comes less than a week before the Reserve Bank is due to hand down its next cash rate decision.
Inflation
Inflation measures changes in the price of goods and services over time.
The ABS calculates the inflation rate – also referred to as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – by analysing prices across categories including food, housing, and transport. It is usually an annual rate.
The latest CPI data tells us that prices have increased on average by 4.6% over the past year, up from the 3.7% for the year to February.
“Annual CPI inflation is the highest it’s been since September 2023,” ABS head of prices statistics Sue-Ellen Luke said.
Why the increase?
Housing and transport were the biggest contributors to inflation in the 12 months to March 2026, according to the ABS.
Housing costs increased 6.5%, driven by rising electricity prices as federal, state, and territory power bill discounts elapsed.
Transport costs (+8.9%) included the rising cost of fuel. Measured across the year, fuel got 24.2% more expensive.
From February to March 2026, the cost of fuel rose 32.8%.
Trimmed mean
The trimmed mean is often seen as a more accurate picture of how inflation is tracking. This is because it excludes volatile prices, such as petrol, to better understand longer-term changes in prices.
The trimmed mean for March was 3.3%, the same as February.
The trimmed mean is partly what the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) looks at to determine the cash rate.
Its target range for the trimmed mean is 2-3%, meaning the rate is too high.
RBA
The latest ABS inflation data comes less than a week before the RBA next meets to decide the cash rate – what it charges banks for short-term loans.
Changes in the cash rate are usually referred to as changes to interest rates, because the cash rate affects interest rates across the economy, including home loans. The higher the cash rate, the more expensive it is to borrow.
The RBA uses the cash rate as a tool to fight rising inflation. If it deems inflation too high, it can increase the cash rate to try to limit spending.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell and Billi FitzSimons.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Zara and Emma explain why Elon Musk and Sam Altman are facing off in court.
🎬 Taylor Swift is taking on AI-generated deepfakes. Read TDA Culture at 5pm today to learn more.
I’ve got 2 minutes
The Government has proposed new legislation that would see social media platforms pay fees if they do not enter into commercial partnerships with news publishers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “every single dollar” generated by the levy “will go back to journalists”.
Meta and Google both criticised the draft law, calling it a “tax”.
The Government is accepting feedback from publishers and platforms until mid-May.
Background
In 2021, the News Media Bargaining Code came into effect, which requires tech companies to pay news companies for the content on their platforms.
Many news publishers (though not TDA) made deals with social media companies including Meta and Google so their content could be shown on the sites.
In Canada, the Online News Act came into effect in 2023, requiring social platforms to pay publishers for news.
Meta responded by banning access to news on its platforms for Canadians. To this day, news companies can’t be seen via Instagram in Canada.
Back in Australia, in 2024, Meta announced it would not renew its deals with publishers such as NewsCorp, Nine, Seven, and Ten, saying: “People don’t come to Facebook for news and political content”.
Google, on the other hand, renewed many of its agreements. The Government decided not to pursue legal action against Meta, instead saying it would introduce new legislation (which is what they’ve announced this week).
New legislation
This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the News Media Bargaining Incentive (NBI). Under the NBI, platforms would pay the Government 2.25% of their Australian revenue.
To pay this, social media companies have two options:
Pay the 2.25% levy directly to the Government, which it will distribute “back to the news media sector.”
Or, reach agreements with news companies to pay them directly. If they choose this option, the Government will reduce their levy bill.
This is how a 2.25% levy would look:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “Journalists are the lifeblood of Australia’s media sector, playing a vital role in keeping communities informed about the news that matters to them.”
Response
A Meta spokesperson called the draft legislation a “digital services tax.”
“News organisations voluntarily post content on our platforms because they receive value from doing so.”
A spokesperson for Google said: “We reject the need for this tax.”
“It ignores the fact that Google already has commercial agreements with the news industry... and mandates payments from some companies while arbitrarily excluding platforms like Microsoft, Snapchat and OpenAI”.
TDA
So... does this affect The Daily Aus?
We won’t know until the legislation has passed Parliament and is enforced.
TDA never received any money from social media companies under the initial code introduced in 2021, so this is new territory for us.
Pros:
Social media companies would receive extra discounts to offset their 2.25% levy if they sign deals with small- to medium-sized news businesses, rather than just large ones.
This could incentivise social media companies to reach agreements with companies like TDA.
Cons:
Social media companies could either fully withdraw from the Australian market or block all news services on their platforms (as Meta has done in Canada) to avoid paying the levy or to force a change in the law.
This would be terrible for TDA, and for you (we hope!).
What’s next?
Publishers and tech companies have until 18 May to respond to the proposed changes.
This includes suggestions for how funds generated by the NBI charge could be used.
Both Meta and Google have confirmed they will provide feedback about the legislation.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
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Give me some good news
Credit: Brighton & Hove Albion
English football club Brighton & Hove Albion has confirmed plans to construct the first purpose-built stadium for women’s football in the UK and Europe.
The club has both a men’s English Premier League side and a Women’s Super League team. Brighton says the 10,000-seat stadium will be purpose-built for female athletes and the culture of the women’s game. This covers aspects including the quality of the pitch, and the design of the changing rooms and recovery areas. The match-day experience will also be “especially welcoming for families and first-time attendees,” with wider concourses, social spaces, and family-friendly access. Albion chairman Tony Bloom said the project reflects the “growing level of interest and potential for women’s football.” The stadium will be located next to the club’s home stadium and close to its training ground.
Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.
TDA titbit
A woman in the U.S. gave birth on a domestic flight last week.
Luckily, two paramedics were also onboard the Atlanta to Portland flight to help her deliver her little airborne miracle.
According to The Associated Press, the two used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord, and used other passengers’ blankets to wrap the baby.
Both mum and bub are doing well.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA asks
