Digital Regulation Research, Forecasts & Analysis

12 Dec 2025 · Media · Brief

Netflix/Warner takeover will squeeze local media

: In early December 2025, Netflix entered a definitive agreement to acquire the film and TV studio assets of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), including Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO, and HBO Max. This reflects an SVOD industry that has matured and now seeks profitability through consolidation. If successfu…

27 Nov 2025 · Telecom · Brief

Time to Abolish the Regional Broadband Scheme?

: News has emerged today that the Minister for Communications has approved an ACCC recommendation to reduce the Regional Broadband Levy from $8.46 to only $2.17 per month per broadband line for 2025-26. Despite its name, the Levy is actually paid by nbn Co’s urban fibre infrastructure competitors. In…

5 Sept 2025 · Digital Platforms · Brief

Consumerisation brings regulation risk for the AI industry

: While early analysis focused on AI's impact on business, the landscape has rapidly "consumerised." Personal preferences are now shaping how users engage with AI, both at work and at home, fostering deep connections that go well beyond professional utility. This emotional entanglement opens up a vas…

5 June 2025 · Digital Platforms · Brief

Social media age restrictions can work, but need an education strategy

: Growing evidence of harms to young people from social media has ignited public concern. In response, Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that bans children under 16 from using certain social media platforms, includi…

9 May 2025 · Digital Regulation · Brief

Time for a Digital Services Tariff?

: Analysis from Venture Insights reveals that the five largest U.S. tech companies operating in Australia — including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta (Facebook), and Amazon — are collectively paying only around a quarter of the corporate tax they would be expected to contribute if taxed fully under Au…

11 Apr 2025 · Media · Brief

Action needed against digital dominance of Australia’s media

: New analysis by Venture Insights shows that Netflix, Google, and Facebook (Meta) each have larger Australian enterprise values than any domestic media company, with Netflix’s implied local EV approaching $11.8 billion, Google at $10.0 billion, and Facebook at $9.4 billion. By comparison, Nine Enter…

28 Mar 2025 · Digital Platforms · Brief

Global Tech Giants and Tax Avoidance in Australia

: Australia’s weak corporate tax regime has allowed global tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft to generate billions in local revenue while paying minimal tax. These companies exploit loopholes to shift profits offshore, contributing just a fraction of what they would under a f…

27 Mar 2025 · Telecom · Brief

USO reform - the Budget dog that didn’t bark

: Abstract: This week’s Federal budget suggests stability for the USO program to the end of the decade. This is despite the impact of LEO satellite services in regional areas, which the Government plans to incorporate into the existing USO policy framework. In our view, this is a lost opportunity for…

16 Mar 2025 · Digital Platforms · Brief

Apple and Microsoft Would Crack the ASX10

: New analysis from Venture Insights reveals that Apple and Microsoft would rank among the ten most valuable companies in Australia if their local operations were assessed independently. We estimate that Apple Australia’s implied enterprise value (EV) is $99.6 billion, and Microsoft Australia’s is $8…

14 Mar 2025 · Telecom · Brief

The tariff debate ignores Australia’s digital dependence

: Australia’s tariff debate is missing the real issue. Our dependence on US technology and digital services is the real economic vulnerability, not steel and aluminium. While we fixate on minor tariffs, Australia imports A$88.2 billion from the US while exporting only A$37.5 billion, with IP charges…

28 Feb 2025 · Telecom · Brief

Mobile USO is obsolete before it has begun

: The Australian Government has announced that, for the first time, mobile will be subject to an Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO). The aim is to ensure that LEO satellite technology is deployed to expand voice, text, and ultimately data connectivity as widely as possible. In our view, this…

10 Feb 2025 · Media · Brief

Australian Government ramps up support of news publishing

: In December 2024 the Australian Government announced two initiatives designed to support public interest reporting. The first was a new scheme to ensure global social media platforms contribute to local news reporting activities. The second was an enhanced News Media Assistance Program (MAP) to pro…