[squiggleblaz]

> they would be completely dead if not for Google traffic, and they surely know it.

It's worth pointing out that this is not the hidden secret that needs exposing, but the public motivation for this policy. The government is trying to present this as "tech monopolies are abusing kind producers of Australian news, and because the tech monopolies have such a strong hand, we must compel them into making agreements they otherwise would not have chosen".

That's why they've gone to such an extent to try and prevent the "well we just won't index you" loophole.