Big tech companies could be forced to fund for Australian journalism or pay even more in charges, regardless of whether they carry news on their platforms.

The federal government's plan, outlined in a consultation paper published on Thursday, would charge social media sites and search engines that refuse to strike deals with local news publishers.

While Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino refused to label the measure as a fine, he stressed the "incentive" would ensure sustainable journalism in Australia.

"Independent, high-quality journalism is absolutely critical for our society, it's absolutely critical for our democracy," he told reporters in Sydney.

The incentive is not designed to raise money for the government, but to encourage tech companies to enter deals with news publishers, Dr

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