The Australian Government's announcement to introduce legislation to counter misinformation and disinformation supports longstanding concerns expressed by the Australian Academy of Science.
The Academy's President, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, told an audience of over of 400 guests at the organisations 70th anniversary gala dinner this week that we live in a time when geopolitical tensions are escalating and in a world of information ubiquity.
"Where evidence-based information is drowned out by mis- and disinformation, and reliable and independent sources of knowledge are increasingly rare," Professor Jagadish said.
"The more polarised the world becomes, the more we need science and evidence based on science. We make better decisions when we have science on our side.
"The more uncertain our times, the more we need robust, evidence-based institutions. The more volatile the world, the more we need science to guide our actions."
Read the President's full gala dinner speech.
Misinformation and disinformation are seen by many experts as the leading global risk of the next two years.
Among the guests at the Academy's gala dinner were Australia's Governor-General, Her Excellency the Hon Sam Mostyn AC and federal politicians including the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP and the Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP.
We have also heard from keynote speaker the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science (@industrygovau) and the Hon Paul Fletcher, Shadow Minister for Science and Arts (@PaulFletcherMP). #ShineDome24 pic.twitter.com/1D2CRI3bWw
- Australian Academy of Science (@Science_Academy) September 11, 2024
Minister Husic told the audience that in a world where mis and dis-information is rising, people understand and trust in Australian science.
"And they are right to. It's something we've all got to work together to nurture," Minister Husic said.
