Google in plans to launch own website in Australia

According to a local media outlet that used to provide articles for the venture, Google is reviving its plans to launch its own news website in Australia within weeks as the search giant fights world-first proposed laws on content payments.

The launch of the News Showcase product as early as next month is Google’s latest tactic in a high-profile campaign against the Australian government’s planned legislation to make the company pay local news providers for content that appears in its search engine.

Misha Ketchell, editor of the academic-penned newsite The Conversation said on Wednesday he was approached by Google “to resume discussions about launching the News Showcase product as soon as possible, potentially in February. We are working with them on this.”

Last June, Google had announced plans to launch News Showcase in Australia signing deals with seven small local outlets including The Conversation for content. It subsequently delayed the launch, citing regulatory conditions when Australia’s competition regulator published a draft copy of the proposed media bargaining code.

The decision to push ahead with the launch was an apparent show of Google’s willingness to run its own content deals negating the need for government-mandated legislation.