News Corp Australia's executive chair has robustly defended the media organisation's practice of featuring climate science sceptics, telling a parliamentary inquiry that publishing differing opinions constitutes healthy democratic debate rather than misinformation.
Confrontation Over Climate Denial Platforming
Michael Miller appeared before the Senate inquiry into climate and energy misinformation, where he faced pointed questioning from Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson about why News Corp outlets regularly platform climate deniers and net zero critics. "I hope you are not suggesting that we should censor them?" Miller responded during the exchange.
The News Corp executive firmly rejected characterisations of his organisation as part of a "climate denial machine" that multiple submissions to the inquiry had alleged. "No. We are part of a debate machine maybe, but not a denial machine," Miller stated, emphasising his belief in allowing diverse voices in national conversations about climate policy.
Defence Against Misinformation Allegations
When confronted with analysis from Climate Communications Australia identifying News Corp publications including The Australian and Sky News as containing the highest degree of climate misinformation among major Australian outlets, Miller challenged the very definition of misinformation being used. "An opinion someone disagrees with is not misinformation," he asserted to the committee.
The executive also defended News Corp's coverage of the devastating 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, despite internal criticism from company employee Emily Townsend, who had written an all-staff email accusing the organisation of spreading climate change denial and lies. Miller countered that their outlets had published 3,335 bushfire stories, with only 5% mentioning arson and 12% discussing climate change.
Editorial Independence and Internal Divisions
Miller denied any coordination across News Corp's various mastheads to promote specific climate sceptic viewpoints or regularly feature right-wing thinktanks like the Institute of Public Affairs. He maintained that each publication maintains editorial independence in deciding which voices to platform.
The inquiry also touched upon the 2020 resignation of James Murdoch from News Corp's board, which reports linked to frustrations about the company's climate coverage in Australian outlets. Miller responded that "climate change is real" and that both Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch had been on record acknowledging this reality. He suggested James Murdoch might have formed his opinions from social media rather than directly reading News Corp titles.
The testimony highlights ongoing tensions between media organisations defending editorial diversity and critics concerned about the amplification of climate science scepticism in public discourse.
