Two prominent scientists have warned that science is under attack from a coordinated campaign of weaponised disinformation, posing a threat to human civilisation. In an article, Professor Michael Mann and Professor Peter Hotez describe an 'antiscience virus' fuelled by five interconnected forces: plutocrats, petrostates, paid promoters, propagandists, and certain media outlets.
The authors, who experienced Australia's black summer bushfires and the US Covid-19 crisis, argue that a network of wealthy individuals, fossil fuel interests, and state actors such as Russia and Saudi Arabia fund and amplify deceitful antiscience content. They use social media, podcasts, and rightwing cable news to undermine climate action and public health measures, portraying scientists as enemies.
Despite a hostile media environment dominated by the Murdoch empire, the Australian public proved resilient to disinformation. Australia elected a government that respects science, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recognising climate change as an existential threat, unlike Donald Trump who dismissed it as a hoax. However, Australia still faces criticism for supporting expanded fossil fuel infrastructure.
The contrast with the US is stark. Texas, with a population similar to Australia's, saw 90,000 Covid-19 deaths by September 2022, nearly four times Australia's total. The authors attribute Australia's divergent path to factors including compulsory voting, absence of partisan districting, and preferential voting, which allow moderate voices to prevail.
