Microsoft is “confident” Bing could replace Google if it decides to withdraw from Australia, prime minister Scott Morrison said on Monday.

Earlier this month Google said it would block its search engine in Australia if the government goes ahead with a new code that will make it pay for content from media companies.

The mandatory code of conduct, called the News Media Bargaining Code, has been developed to address bargaining power imbalances between Australian news media and digital platforms, specifically Google and Facebook.

Currently around 19 million Australians use Google’s search engine.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella has spoken with the Australian prime minister about the new rules, the tech giant told Retuers.

According to the news organisation Morrison said that Microsoft was “ready to grow the presence of its search tool Bing.”

“I can tell you, Microsoft’s pretty confident, when I spoke to Satya,” the prime minister told reporters.“We just want the rules in the digital world to be the same that exist in the real world, in the physical world.”

It has also been reported that Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg had a meeting with Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg about the new law.

After the meeting, Frydenberg said he would not back down on the law change.

“We recognise the importance of a vibrant media sector and public interest journalism in a democracy and we recognise the challenges the media sector has faced over many years through changing business models and consumer preferences," said a Microsoft spokesperson.
“With respect to the current controversy over a potential code of conduct governing Google and Facebook, Microsoft is not directly involved and we wouldn’t want to comment on that ongoing process involving the ACCC and those companies.”

National Technology News has reached out to Google for comment.

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