Australia faces a rapidly escalating breakdown in information integrity. Australians are now living in a world increasingly shaped by propaganda and disinformation rather than factual information. Anti-climate-action propaganda and disinformation networks have grown into multibillion dollar permanent campaigns, largely funded by fossil-fuel interests and their allies.

For Australia, the risks are multidimensional. The report identifies the risks as sovereignty, economic security, disaster and defence readiness, and institutional legitimacy.

Key findings

• Climate disinformation is evolving from a communications issue into a national security challenge.
• The overall objective is not simply to convince, but to degrade the information environment itself, creating confusion, mistrust and institutional de-legitimisation that weakens democratic decision making on complex issues.
• Government efforts so far are not commensurate with the sheer scale, resourcing and coordination of disinformation networks.

Key recommendations

• Government to rebuild accountability for climate information.
• Ensure credible information dominates during crises and disasters.
• Protect citizens, government and decision makers from manipulation.
• Urgent, enforceable rules for generative artificial intelligence (AI).
• Invest in public resilience, research, independent journalism and secure communication systems.