(Microsoft Image)

Microsoft is wading into a dispute between Google and the Australian government by asserting that it would never threaten to leave the country, as Google did last week.

Google is against a proposed new law which would make tech giants negotiate payments with local publishers and broadcasters for content included in search results or news feeds, CNBC reported. The company is threatening to block its search engine in Australia as a result.

While other tech companies may sometimes threaten to leave Australia, Microsoft will never make such a threat, Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog post on Wednesday. We appreciate what Australia has long meant for Microsofts growth as a company, and we are committed to supporting the countrys national security and economic success.

Microsofts Bing could certainly use a little help in making up ground in Australia. Google currently dominates the search engine market in the country with 94.5% of the share to Bings 3.6%, according to StatCounter.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he spoke with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who said that Microsoft was ready to step in and expand Bing in Australia if Google pulls its search engine, according to Reuters.

We will invest further to ensure Bing is comparable to our competitors and we remind people that they can help, with every search Bing gets better at finding what you are looking for, Smith wrote.

Australias so-called news media bargaining code specifically targets Google and Facebook, which both get a large part of their revenue from the digital advertising that runs alongside news stories. Google has called the code unreasonable and unworkable, according to CNBC.

Smith said Microsoft is committed to Australia and news publishers that are vital to the countrys democracy and that the code reasonably attempts to address the bargaining power imbalance between digital platforms and Australian news businesses while recognizing the important role search plays, not only to consumers but to the thousands of Australian small businesses that rely on search and advertising technology to fund and support their organizations.

Read more:

As Google fights with Australia, Microsoft promotes Bing and says it wouldnt threaten to leave country - GeekWire