2026-03-24
Coordinated false and misleading information campaigns are infringing multiple human rights, dividing Australian communities, and hindering global progress on climate change by eroding public trust in climate science and influencing political outcomes, a Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy has found.
The inquiry was the first of its kind and took significant evidence across numerous hearings. The Committee was able to reach a majority report, backed by Labor, Liberals, and the Greens.
The majority report makes 21 recommendations across different policy areas on how to improve information integrity gaps in the climate and energy debate. The Greens’ additional comments make a further 25 recommendations.
Key majority report recommendations include that the Australian Government:
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Officially endorse the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change launched at COP30, and adopt the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity.
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Explore ways to ensure greater transparency of campaign activities, such as the creation of third parties, that are resourced by commercial/corporate interests in the lead-up to a federal election.
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Explore funding models for independent monitoring support (for example, via an Australian Internet Observatory) to track hidden digital influence ecosystems and provide independent transparency and accountability of platforms.
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Consider legislative or regulatory reform which identifies psychosocial harms, places the onus of responsibility in addressing these harms onto digital platforms, and monitors the effectiveness of their mitigations through regulatory and civic oversight.
Lines attributable to Committee chair, Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
“Deliberate and deceptive campaigns that undermine information integrity on climate change and energy – or manipulate public discourse to obstruct policy – have stalled climate action, including the rollout of renewable energy in Australia.
“Many Australians are familiar with the concept of political ‘climate wars’ but not the broader tactics that have been employed for decades to defeat or delay climate policy.
“This inquiry was primarily intended to raise education and awareness on this critical matter, and start a national conversation on what needs to be done to improve transparency and accountability around false, misleading, and deceptive information that has for years challenged science and undermined climate action in Australia.
“Evidence was provided that a ‘denial machine’ has deliberately obstructed climate and energy policy for decades in Australia. This ‘denial machine’ has included conservative think tanks, law firms, PR firms, consultancies, third-party campaign groups and some conservative media outlets.
“For those who care about a safe climate future, this is deeply concerning.
“This is a complex issue and requires a comprehensive set of solutions to address it, and the Greens are pleased with a number of recommendations made by the Committee to improve climate information integrity.
“A key win from this inquiry was for the Australia Government to agree to sign onto the UN Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change and adopt the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, which should provide momentum to develop a national plan to combat deliberate and deceptive efforts to undermine information integrity on climate change and energy here in Australia.
“Whilst the majority report makes important recommendations, the Australian Greens felt the recommendations should have gone harder and further.
“Witness testimony revealed electoral disclosure laws may be ineffective due to financing shifting to third party actors – backed by commercial and fossil fuel interests – who are able to spend big without being captured by the same transparency and accountability laws.
“The Committee was not able to reach majority consensus on a recommendation that the Australian Government urgently progress truth in political advertising reforms, with the Albanese government choosing not to support this important recommendation.
“The Australian Greens implore the Albanese government to progress federal truth in political advertising reform before the 2028 federal election, with these reforms being extended to apply to Significant Third Parties and other related political advocacy and lobby groups.
“Protecting and strengthening information integrity in our politics and exposing the groups who serve to benefit from undermining it must be a priority in the battle for our democracy and for a safe climate future.”