TV networks urge tighter tax rules on online giants
November 26, 2012 – The commercial free-to-air networks have lobbied the government to impose tougher tax rules on international online giants, including Google, Apple and Facebook, in an attempt to create a “level playing field” beyond the media reforms set to go before cabinet as early as today.
It is understood that senior executives in the sector have raised their concerns about tax in recent discussions with government officials, including Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and his office.
The main priority of the powerful free-to-air lobby is to have licence fees reduced and the scrapping of reach rules preventing mergers with regional broadcasters. But they have argued that lower tax rates have handed an unfair advantage to online companies including Google which are grabbing an increasingly large share of the $12 billion local advertising market.
Read more at the Australian Financial Review