Immigration has been a pawn for political dog-whistling and misinformation for decades — and the 2025 election campaign promises more of the same. The lack of agreement on a coherent long-term vision for an Australian immigration policy that in 2025 is not fit for purpose leaves migrants at the centerContinue Reading
False online claims about business and the economy top the list of misinformation concerns for Australians and research indicates they are screaming out for help on how to deal with it. In some ways, it’s not surprising misinformation on the economy rates so highly during a cost-of-living crisis and withContinue Reading
Online influencers might not change the way Australians vote in the looming federal election but they’ll almost certainly shape how and why political events become “news.” In a nation where up to 40 percent of users on popular platforms like YouTube and TikTok get their news from influencers, they’re likelyContinue Reading
Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party’s hope of clinging to government in 2025 hinges on dramatically reshaping their pitch to voters more concerned about hip-pocket issues than broader economic messages. Reforms to the composition of the reserve bank and positive economic trends might excite financial markets, but everyday voters needContinue Reading
The rise of “dark advertising” — personalized advertisements increasingly powered by artificial intelligence that evade public scrutiny — means Australians face a murky information landscape going into the federal election. It’s already happening and, combined with Australia’s failure to enact truth-in-advertising legislation and big tech’s backtracking on fact-checking, means votersContinue Reading
The Albanese government has secured bipartisan support for a major new regime covering political donations and spending, after making significant concessions. The government agreed to increase the proposed threshold above which donations must be disclosed from AU$1,000 (US$625) to AU$5,000. The present disclosure threshold is AU$16,900. In addition, it hasContinue Reading
