The Albanese government is pushing ahead with its plan to force social media companies to pay for Australian news content carried on their platforms.

Treasury has published a long-awaited discussion paper on the news media bargaining incentive, first promised almost a year ago .

Under the plan, tech giants Google, Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok would be hit with a levy if they do not voluntarily enter into deals with publishers to pay for their content.

"If they don't enter into agreements, that is where the incentive payments will be levied," assistant treasurer Dan Mulino told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

"A strong independent media and public interest journalism in particular is critical to our democracy and that's why this issue, this reform is so impor

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