Australia's competition watchdog said on Thursday it issued draft proposals to authorise regional newspaper industry group, Country Press Australia, to negotiate with Google and Facebook for payments for news content on their platforms.

Australian regulator may authorise media group talks with Google, Facebook

Australia's competition watchdog is looking into a claim that Facebook Inc refused a publisher's request to negotiate a licensing deal, the regulator told Reuters, setting the stage for the first test of the world's toughest online content law.

Facebook rejects talks with Australia publisher in test for online law

Australia and Facebook conducted talks on Friday after the social media giant blacked out news for Australian netizens. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he had spoken with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to resolve the issue at the earliest and negotiations would continue in the weekend.

Facebook, Australia hold talks following news ban