Cabinet is expected to consider proposals to address challenges to the New Zealand media industry this month. The deadline is stated in the briefing to the new Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith , which also advises the minister of the options the Government could take to aid the sustainability of local content providers in the face of declining revenue and overwhelming competition with global streaming and social media entities. Every time a ministerial portfolio changes hands, the new minister receives a briefing that gives an overview of their responsibilities and the priorities of their department or ministry.

Goldsmith became the Media and Communications Minister after Melissa Lee, who held the portfolio from the beginning of the coalition Government, was demoted by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in April. In his recently released briefing, it stated the minister was set to determine the future of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill in May. Goldsmith had been requested to report to Cabinet this month.

Introduced by the former Labour Government, the bill sought to implement a regime by which social media companies and tech giants would pay for local news content that appeared on their platforms. In Opposition, Lee hadn’t supported the bill but her view appeared to soften with her reserving judgement until after it went through the select committee process. That concluded late last month in a confusing fashion with Goldsmith having to later admit Govern.