‘War on Truth’: Ex-Defence Chiefs Sound Alarm as Australia Falls Victim to Orchestrated Disinformation Campaigns on Climate Change
- Retired defence leaders warn that Australia is under attack from a “disinformation war” that threatens national security, economic resilience, and institutional trust.
- A Senate inquiry reveals a “denial machine” of conservative think tanks, law firms, and media outlets has deliberately obstructed climate and energy policy in Australia for decades.
- The inquiry’s 21 recommendations aim to combat misinformation and disinformation, but experts say it’s just the beginning of the fight to clean up Australia’s digital town square.
Australia is in the midst of a “disinformation war” that poses a significant threat to national security, economic resilience, and institutional trust, according to retired defence leaders.
The warning comes as a Senate inquiry exposes the extent of orchestrated disinformation campaigns on climate change and energy policy in Australia.
The Senate’s select committee on information integrity on climate change and energy released its final report last week, sounding the alarm about the health of Australia’s digital town square and the erosion of trust in society.
The committee heard that the integrity of Australia’s information ecosystem is threatened by a proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, which is polarising public discourse and eroding trust in science and knowledge institutions.
The report’s 21 recommendations aim to strike a balance between the principles of free speech and expression, and the need for trustworthy information ecosystems. The recommendations focus on improving transparency about networks and funding sources, combating “dark money,” and promoting education and media literacy.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The disinformation war on climate change and energy policy in Australia has serious implications for national security, economic resilience, and institutional trust.
The “denial machine” of conservative think tanks, law firms, and media outlets has deliberately obstructed climate and energy policy in Australia for decades, and the consequences are far-reaching.
Security analysts say that the failure to address climate change and transition to renewable energy sources poses a significant threat to Australia’s sovereignty, economic resilience, disaster readiness, institutional trust, and strategic autonomy.
The disinformation war is not only undermining the capacity to build a renewable, clean energy future but also crashing society as we know it.
Experts warn that the fight against the disinformation war will require political courage and decisive action in Australia.
The government must commit resources to shore up the collection and analysis of national and globally-relevant climate data, strengthen the capabilities of Australia’s climate sensor and satellite programs, and establish an Australian Institute for Earth System Science.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the lack of transparency around donations to think tanks and third-party affiliated organisations is a significant concern. The report’s recommendations for improving transparency and accountability of online platforms are critical to combatting corporate greenwashing and astroturfing.
Industry observers believe that the report’s emphasis on education, particularly media, digital, and science literacy, is crucial to promoting a more informed public discourse on climate change and energy policy.
The government’s endorsement of the Declaration on Information Integrity in Climate Change and adoption of the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity are essential steps towards promoting a trustworthy information ecosystem.
The battle against disinformation and misinformation on climate change and energy policy is far from over. The Senate inquiry’s report is just the beginning of the fight to clean up Australia’s digital town square and promote a more informed public discourse.
As the nation grapples with the challenges of climate change, it is essential to stay vigilant and committed to promoting truth and accountability in the face of orchestrated disinformation campaigns.
