Academic study finds most Australian adults "do not have the ability to assess information sources and verify information online across websites and social media" & all age groups are affected.

 

ONLINE MISINFORMATION IN AUSTRALIA: ADULTS’ EXPERIENCES, ABILITIES, AND RESPONSES

3 December 2024

Authors

Sora Park, Tanya Notley, T. J. Thomson, Aimee Hourigan, Michael Dezuanni

Publisher

News and Media Research Centre, University of Western Sydney

Executive Summary [excerpt]

The flourishing of Australian society relies on well-informed citizens who benefit from ready access to reliable sources of information to support their decision making. Democratic processes and social participation that are underpinned by high-quality and trustworthy news and information lead to better outcomes for Australian society. Likewise, accessing reliable and trustworthy information enables citizens to make informed decisions about everything from voting, to making purchases, to staying safe online, to accessing health advice and services.

The rapid uptake of social media, which Australians now use more than any other type of media, presents many opportunities for accessing information, but also brings into focus the significant challenge of misinformation. The sheer volume of information online and the speed at which new information travels can be overwhelming and very difficult to navigate. As a result, bad actors seek to undermine democratic processes and target individuals by spreading false and misleading information. This has been widely recognised as a global problem.

The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks report¹ finds that mis- and disinformation² pose the greatest immediate risk societies face and may “radically disrupt electoral processes over the next two years”.³ In 2021, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution affirming that “media and information literacy” can help ensure “that the fight against disinformation and misinformation promotes and does not infringe on individuals’ freedom of expression and access to information.” To achieve this, the resolution called on Member States to “develop and implement policies, action plans and strategies related to the promotion of media and information literacy” while also calling on social media platforms to “promote media and information literacy, as a way to empower all people and facilitate digital inclusion and global connectivity, and to assist in the fight against disinformation and misinformation.”⁴

However, unlike many advanced democracies,⁵ Australia does not have a national media literacy policy or strategy to ensure citizens are provided with support to help them to verify information online and to ensure they are supported to create and share trustworthy information.

In our 2024 national survey,⁶ only 42% of adult Australians said they are confident that they can check if information online is true and only 39% are confident they can check if a website can be trusted. While these attitudes are useful to capture, self-reporting about technology abilities can be inaccurate.⁷ Prior to this research very little was known about adult Australians’ actual ability or their everyday encounters with and responses to misinformation online. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted four studies.

1. We surveyed 3,852 adults to

understand their media practices,

attitudes and confidence in their

abilities.

2. We tested the ability of 2,115

of these adults to assess the

credibility of information on

websites and social media

platforms.

3. We supported 55 of these

adults to collect data about their

experiences with (un)trustworthy

online news and information over

one week as part of a mobile

diary study.

4. We interviewed 20 of these

participants to explore how

sociocultural dynamics influence

people’s information seeking and

decision-making behaviours.

Our analysis of these four interlinked datasets finds that the vast majority of adult Australians want to be able to identify misinformation and are trying to do so. However, most adults do not have the ability to assess information sources and verify information online across websites and social media.

1 See https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2024/

2 In this report we use ‘misinformation’ as an overarching term that includes both dis- and misinformation.

3 See https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2024.pdf

4 161 GA Res 75/267, UN Doc A/RES/75/267 (29 March 2021)

5 Examples include Finland’s National Media Education Strategy (2013, 2019); the UK’s OfCom Online media literacy strategy (2021, 2024); and Netherland’s Netwerk

Mediawijksheid Multi-Year Plan (2019–2023).

6 Notley, T., Chambers, S., Park, S. & Dezuanni, M. (2024). Adult Media Literacy in 2024: Australian Attitudes, Experiences and Needs. Western Sydney University, Queensland University of Technology and University of Canberra. https://apo.org.au/node/327239

7 Siddiq et al. 2016, Taking a future perspective by learning from the past, Educational Research Review, 19(1).

SNAPSHOT FROM INFOGRAPHIC, p.10

Full report can be read & downloaded at

https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2024-12/apo-nid328959.pdf

* my yellow highlighting used in this excerpt

The 2024 Australian parliamentary year ended on a rather busy note.....

 

Last week mainstream media began discussing the "incredible number" of Bills before the Australian Parliament that week and how many "laws changed overnight".

Yes, there were a high number of bills before Parliament, but no, laws do not change overnight. While the amendments and provisions set out in the Bills mentioned below will have received the Governor-General's assent on or about 29 November 2024, some do not come into effect until 2025. 

Here is a breakdown of legislative business covering the progress of bills before the Australian Parliament in 2024.

As at 29 November 2024 the 47th Australian Parliament - commenced at the start of the first term of the Albanese Labor Government - had considered 428 Bills to date.

A total of 162 of these were introduced during 2024 - including 7 received from the Senate. A total of 100 received consent and passed into law.

In the week beginning 25 November 2024, both the House of Representatives and the Senate were particularly busy, as the Albanese Government sought to enter the 2025 federal general election year with fewer policy and procedural matters outstanding.

During that last sitting week of 2024 the following Bills were agreed to:

• Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Scheduling) Bill 2024 (Senate bill presented and agreed in the House this week)

• Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) (Consequential Provisions and Other Matters) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week)

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Tax (Imposition) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week)

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024 (amended in the House this week)

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) Bill 2024

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024 (amended in the House this week)

• Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week)

• Health Insurance (Pathology) (Fees) (Repeal) Bill 2024

• Health Legislation Amendment (Modernising My Health Record—Sharing by Default) Bill 2024

• Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Amendment Bill 2024

• Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2024

• Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024 (amended in the House this week)

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week)

The following Bills were returned by the Senate with amendments:

• Aged Care Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week; the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Help to Buy Bill 2023 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 (presented and agreed in the House this week; the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendment)

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) (Consequential) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Reserve Bank Reforms) Bill 2023 (the House agreed to Senate amendments)

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (the House agreed to Senate amendments).

On Thursday, 28 November 2024, the last sitting day of the year a total of 34 Bills were still before the House of Representatives.

Being read for the second time:

• Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024

• Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill 2024

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024

• Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024

Being read for the third time:

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024

The following 27 Bills were passed by the House of Representatives in the space of 39 minutes as the House extended its last sitting day to the early morning of the next day, Friday 29 November 2024:

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Bill 2024

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024

• Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024

• Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024

• Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Tax (Imposition) Bill 2024

• Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) (Consequential Provisions and Other Matters) Bill 2024

• Capital Works (Build to Rent Misuse Tax) Bill 2024

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024

• Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) Bill 2024

• Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Superannuation (Objective) Bill 2023

• Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional Broadcasting Continuity) Bill 2024

• Crown References Amendment Bill 2023

• Customs Amendment (ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area Second Protocol

• Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2024

• Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Amendment Bill 2024

• Treasury Laws Amendment (2024 Tax and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2024

• Surveillance Legislation (Confirmation of Application) Bill 2024

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024

• Migration Amendment Bill 2024

• Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2024

Wyrallah Road Public School's recent exhibition of students artwork was an "was an astounding success"

 

ECHO, 29 November 2024:

Despite a rainy evening it seems there was no holding back the success of the Wyrallah Road Public School Art Show last week.

Celebrating art and their young artists the community, young and old, came and supported Wyrallah Road Public School (WRPS) at their fundraising art show and the streets were lined and the school hall buzzing.

‘Eight large collaborative class pieces were auctioned and sold, raffle tickets were flying out with a mountain of prizes from many of the small businesses that make Lismore vibrant and an art competition with prizes of first, second and third for each stage was judged by Mayor Krieg, former mayor Jenny Dowell, and art teacher Lisa Newman,’ said orgainser Vicky Fitzsimmons.

‘It was an astounding success.’......

 ‘All in all WRPS students, families and the wider Lismore community came and celebrated being bolder and brighter, together,’ said Vicky.

Four Clarence Valley local government councillors chosen to "chair and support" First Nations Community Roundtable meetings across the valley

Clarence Valley Council, News, 27 November 2024:

COUNCIL BRIEFS: Outcomes from monthly meeting held 21 November

Published on 27 November 2024

Councillors 2024

Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 21 November 2024 at the Maclean Council Chambers.

One Mayoral Minute and one Notice of Motion were considered and followed by 16 of 30 items debated and the other 14 adopted by consent in a meeting which lasted four hours.

Councillors Appointed to First Nation Roundtable Meetings

Four councillors have been nominated to chair the First Nations Community Roundtable meetings planned to be held in Baryulgil, Grafton, Maclean and Yamba in early 2025.

Councillor Debrah Novak will chair and support the Baryulgil and Yamba First Nations Community Roundtable meeting, Councillor Christie Yager will chair the Maclean First Nations Community Roundtable meeting, and Councillor Greg Clancy will chair the Grafton First Nations Community meetings.

Mayor Ray Smith has been appointed to chair meetings held with Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Yaegl Traditional Owner Corporation.

Councillor Karen Toms will also be supporting the Yaegl and Grafton Elders Group meetings twice a year.

Earlier in the meeting, Councillors also voted to endorse the Clarence Valley Council Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2024 – 2026 after the document was officially accredited by Reconciliation Australia for implementation.

The RAP Framework sets out four types of RAPs (Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate) depending on what stage of the reconciliation journey an organisation is up to.

Council's 'Innovate' RAP aims to:

• implement actions that work towards achieving the organisation’s vision for reconciliation

• understand the sphere of influence and establish the best approaches to advance reconciliation

• focus on strengthening relationships with First Nation people and piloting strategies for further reconciliation commitments and empower First Nation people

• be implemented over a two-year period between July 2024 - July 2026.

The RAP will be implemented over the next two years with regular updates to Reconciliation Australia on progress as well as completion of an annual RAP Impact Survey.

Councillor Greg Clancy called the item to bring attention to the new Reconciliation Action Plan praising it as “another good news story”.

Councillor Debrah Novak echoed Councillor Clancy’s praising.

“Now that it’s been accredited, we can hit the ground running and do so much more for our First Nation people and work closer together.” 

[my yellow highlighting]

Operation Five Valleys launched in Kyogle region, northern NSW, with a focus on this potential fire ant hot spot

NSW Dept. of Primary Industry, media release, 28 November 2024:

NSW Government’s fire ant protection activities ramp-up for busy QLD border-crossing period

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW - Media Release

28 Nov 2024

The Minns Labor Government is ramping up its red imported fire ants program’s surveillance and response efforts to combat the potential spread of fire ants during the summer when cross border traffic increases.

The Government’s red fire ant program’s goal is to prevent red fire ants from entering New South Wales, and in the event they do, the program identifies infestations early and eradicates them swiftly.

Biosecurity detection dog ‘Candy’ seeks out fire ant nests during the NSW Governments recent early detection surveillance on the Tweed, under the watchful eye of Biosecurity detection dog trainer/handler, Ryan Tate from TATE Animals.

Operation Five Valleys in the Kyogle region was launched this week to focus on this potential hot spot and is spearheaded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Last week another wave of Operation Victa, involving NSW Police and Transport for NSW, stopped 68 large vehicles at the NSW/Qld border to inspect compliance and turned around one vehicle from entering NSW under a direction from the officers.

This compliance activity follows the recent interception and eradication of fire ants found in a turf delivery from Queensland, which led to a swift response by the NSW Government suspending the importing of turf from southeast Queensland until that region’s landscape sector demonstrates better safeguarding behaviours.

These actions are part of the NSW Government’s ongoing detection and surveillance program across northern New South Wales.

Operation Five Valleys is undertaking the following:

• The Government’s specially trained detection dogs and human surveillance teams will be monitoring high-risk sites in Kyogle to detect fire ants.

• High-risk locations are identified with fire ant carrier materials, such as turf, soil, landscaping materials, plus areas highlighted by habitat suitability modelling.

• Areas near Cougal, Findon Creek, Lindesay Creek, Dairy Flat and Sawpit Creek have been identified as early detection areas to guard against the natural and human-assisted spread into NSW from QLD.

• A Check Your Yard campaign is being launched to encourage all residents to check their properties. Selected Landholders can also elect to have their properties checked at no cost.

• Plus, selected Landholders can have their properties checked at no cost.

To further support these efforts, the NSW Government has introduced updates to the Biosecurity Emergency Order, providing clear guidance and improved safeguards for stakeholders involved in the movement of fire ant carrier materials.

The Order now includes clearer fire ant carrier definitions, premises checking and treatment, plus clarified requirements, making it easier for stakeholders to fulfil their duties. For more information, Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244 or www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty:

"The Minns Labor Government’s early detection surveillance program is part of our ongoing commitment to keep this highly invasive pest out of New South Wales.

“By focusing on high-risk areas and employing advanced tracking and modeling techniques, we’re taking strong preventative measures to stop fire ants from establishing here."

“We’ve proven that when fire ants are detected in NSW, we will respond quickly to control the situation and stamp them out.

“We will also take measures to address weak-link behaviours, such as banning QLD turf entering NSW after repeated problems.

“Fire ants won’t march or float into NSW they will either be carried with materials such as soil, mulch, hay and turf, or fly in by natural spread from QLD. Which is why we’re ramping up surveillance in these high-risk areas.

 

Art Work of the Week

 

ARTIST: Liza Adamczewski (Wales UK)

@lizaadamczewski

Blackbird on flowering apple tree with gold leaf background, painted on board. Date unknown.

BIRCHGROVE LEGAL TAKES OPPOSITION LEADER & LIBERAL MP FOR DICKSON TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION UNDER AUSTRALIA’S RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT: "Mr Dutton’s pattern of spreading disinformation to justify the demonisation and oppression of a people facing plausible genocide is not only in poor taste, but a violation of human rights"

 

Birchgrove Legal is a law firm based in Australia, specialising in servicing the needs of organisations from not-for-profits, small & medium enterprises to multi-national corporations.

On 26 November 2024 the law firm released the following media release:

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton Faces Group Legal action over Gaza Remarks and Incitement of Hate

25 November 2024

A representative legal action has been lodged against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton under Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act, accusing him of discrimination and inciting racial hatred through his remarks and social media commentary on Gaza and Palestinians.

The action, filed with the Australian Human Rights Commission by Birchgrove Legal, represents Jewish, Palestinian, and Muslim communities in Australia.

Led by Professor Peter Slezak, an Australian Jewish academic and Palestinian advocate Nasser Mashni, the action accuses Dutton of dehumanising Palestinians, Muslims, and Jews, while stigmatising Australians who support Palestinian rights.

The legal action states that Mr Dutton’s comments contradict Australia’s obligations under the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute, particularly in relation to preventing genocide and protecting refugees.

Additionally, the legal action states that Mr Dutton’s public comments have led to increased vilification of Palestinians, including targeted harassment and hate crimes against peaceful protesters intimidating Jewish and other Australians supporting the Palestinian rights movement.

Principal Solicitor at Birchgrove Legal, Moustafa Kheir, said Mr Dutton’s words had normalised anti-Palestinian hate and dehumanising rhetoric.

“Mr Dutton’s pattern of spreading disinformation to justify the demonisation and oppression of a people facing plausible genocide is not only in poor taste, but a violation of human rights,” Mr Kheir said.

“This legal action seeks to ensure that political leaders are held accountable for their words and actions, and that we are all prescribed to the same judicial system despite our cultural background, privilege or faith.”

Among the 22 incidents, the key allegations against Mr Dutton include:

1. Misleading Claims About Palestinian Nakba survivors seeking refuge in Australia: In August 2024, Dutton claimed the Australian Government was jeopardising national security by granting almost 3,000 tourist visas to people from Gaza, which he labelled a “terrorist-controlled” zone. He also shared a misleading graph that sparked anti-Palestinian sentiment. Dutton’s insinuations that the Albanese Government’s actions were politically motivated to appease Muslim voters were reflected in hostile public responses.

2. False Claims and Propaganda: Dutton is accused of amplifying discredited far-right claims, including false Israeli propaganda about beheaded babies, and repeating debunked stories about Australian protesters allegedly shouting, “gas the Jews.” NSW Police had dismissed the latter claims, but Dutton failed to retract or apologise for spreading them.

3. Encouraging Violence and Deportation: The legal action highlights Dutton’s calls for “no restraint” in Israel’s military actions against civilians in Gaza and deporting pro-Palestinian protesters from Australia.

4. Disparaging Muslim Candidates: Dutton’s comments about Muslim candidates in federal parliament being a “disaster.”

5. Atrocity Denial: Dutton is accused of engaging in ‘atrocity denial’ by failing to acknowledge Israel’s disproportionate killing of civilians and unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

Professor Slezak said it was abhorrent for a national leader to engage in such divisive public commentary fully understating the racial tensions it could breed.

“Mr Dutton is using the same ‘security threat’ language against Palestinians that was once used to demonise Jewish people before the Holocaust—and worse, he claims to do this in our name,” Mr Slezak said.

“Like many Jewish Australians, I grieve the atrocities Israel is committing against Palestinians and we will not be intimidated into silence.

“Statements that dehumanise any group of people, including Palestinians, must be challenged. All parties responsible must be held accountable for statements that dehumanise certain groups and fuel division, including Palestinians, whose suffering deserves recognition.”

Mr Mashni also condemned the harm caused by Mr Dutton’s comments citing the gross dehumanisation of Palestinians and Palestinian Australians undermined international law.

“On one side, we have a government refusing to impose sanctions, and on the other, an opposition leader encouraging Australia to flout international law and withhold empathy to the human suffering occurring,” Mr Mashni said.

“Our community urgently needs Australia to take a firm stand against Israel’s ongoing genocide, which will only end with sustained international pressure.”

The legal action requests a public apology from Mr Dutton and rectifications and compensation for affected communities.

If the Commission does not resolve the matter, applicants may pursue a Federal Court action on the same grounds. Law suits cannot be brought directly to Court under the Racial Discrimination Act and must start in the Australian Human Rights Commission.

ENDS