Australia’s top media executives have issued a blunt warning to global AI companies, insisting they must start paying for the vast amount of Australian news and cultural content being used without permission to train their systems. Their message: journalism is a public good, not a free resource for tech giants.
Speaking at the annual Andrew Olle lecture, the heads of the ABC, SBS, Nine and News Corp Australasia said AI developers are already seeking access to Australian material. ABC managing director David Anderson revealed that AI firm Anthropic had approached the broadcaster for audio and video archives to help its models learn “how Australians speak.”
The panel’s discussion ranged from the future of AI in journalism to behind‑the‑scenes revelations about former Today host Karl Stefanovic’s departure. But the strongest theme was the growing tension between media organisations and AI companies over the value of original reporting.
Nine’s Peter Marks said AI firms should strike licensing deals with Australian newsrooms, while acknowledging a “delicate balance” between protecting journalism and ensuring Australians receive high‑quality information through AI tools. SBS managing director Jane Palfreyman was more direct, saying news organisations should not be expected to let AI companies train on their content for free. “Our collective view on that would be no,” she said.
The executives argued that Australian journalism already under financial pressure cannot afford to have its work absorbed into AI systems without compensation, especially when those systems increasingly shape how audiences consume information.
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