Facebook has banned Facebook's own Facebook page in Australia (opens in new tab)

It's completely the wrong approach. If they want to subsidize news, do what Andrew Yang proposed as on of his core policies - a "Journalism Dollars" - where every citizen gets $100/year to allocate to their favourite journalist. The problem really seems to be either corruption that's causing then a lack of caring, or simply not enough politicians who have foundational thinking to understand exponentials and trickle up effects, cascading consequences; is it the population is undereducated and if they understood it and that it is money well spent, that leads to safeguarding society and democracy, and only once enough of the population understand that will they vote in politicians who will implement it?