Competition watchdog expects Google and Facebook to strike deal with small publishers

News media bargaining code passes Senate after government reaches 11th-hour agreement with Facebook

If smaller and regional publishers don't get a deal under the news media code, the government retains the trigger" to force Google and Facebook to the negotiating table, competition tsar Rod Sims says.

The code passed the Senate on Wednesday evening with amendments, a day after the Morrison government struck a deal with Facebook that will see them pay publishers for their news content. The amended legislation will return to the House of Representatives for final approval before it becomes law.