By Denis Hay
Description
Discover how conservative think tanks distort facts in Australia, spread misinformation, and threaten democracy and the environment.
Introduction: Behind the Curtain of Public Debate
Location: A bustling newsroom in Sydney.
A young journalist reads over her morning media briefing. “Climate alarmism is killing jobs,” the headline screams. It’s from a respected paper. The source? The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). She sighs – another day of sifting spin from substance.
Thoughts: She wonders how everyday Australians are supposed to separate fact from fiction when even the most authoritative outlets give airtime to think tanks with deep corporate ties.
Welcome to modern Australia – where conservative think tanks cloak ideology in research, where fossil fuel billionaires shape your nightly news, and where the truth is under siege.
The Problem: Think Tanks Masquerading as Experts
Conservative think tanks in Australia – led by the IPA, Centre for Independent Studies, and others – claim to be intellectual powerhouses offering policy advice. In reality, they are well-funded lobbying machines aligned with corporate interests.
• Institute of Public Affairs (IPA): Founded in 1943, now funded by mining magnates like Gina Rinehart. Regularly campaigns against climate science, public broadcasting, and union rights.
• Centre for Independent Studies (CIS): Pushes economic deregulation, cuts to welfare, and privatisation under the guise of ‘freedom’.
• Menzies Research Centre: Closely tied to the Liberal Party, it promotes a neoliberal, trickle-down agenda.
These think tanks flood the media and politics with reports and op-eds presented as objective. Yet their intent is clear: protect profits, deregulate markets, and silence progressive voices.
The Real-World Impact
Scene: Western Sydney, 2024. A single mother turns on Sky News as she folds laundry.
“Welfare bludgers are holding Australia back,” a panellist says – an IPA “fellow.” She winces. She works two jobs, gets no Centrelink, but feels the sting.
Emotion: Confusion. Anger. Doubt. “Are they talking about me?”
This is how it works. Misinformation, legitimised through media and politics, shifts public opinion. It’s not just climate denial. It’s stigmatising the poor, undermining public services, and manufacturing consent for privatisation.
Media Allies: The Propaganda Pipeline
NewsCorp’s Network: Sky News, The Australian, Herald Sun
These platforms give conservative think tanks uncritical exposure. The IPA has had its members appear on Sky News over 1,000 times. Viewers hear them as “experts,” not lobbyists.
Radio Shock Jocks: Echo Chambers of Misinformation
Talkback radio spreads think tank narratives like wildfire – particularly among older Australians.
• Alan Jones, a former 2GB radio host and Sky News presenter, long amplified climate denial, anti-renewable myths, and anti-immigrant sentiment.
• Important Note: Alan Jones is currently facing criminal charges, adding to the credibility crisis of right-wing talkback media.
The Illusion of Balance
Think tank voices are often presented as neutral, while actual academics and scientists are dismissed as “activists.”
Political Enablers: Who’s Listening?
The Liberal-National Coalition
Many MPs are IPA members or alumni. In 2016, over a third of the Coalition had ties to the IPA.
Policies pushed by these MPs:
• Opposing net-zero climate goals
• Reducing corporate taxes
• Gutting the ABC and public universities
Far-Right and Populist Politicians
One Nation and UAP frequently parrot think tank talking points, attacking “woke culture,” unions, and the public sector.
Labor’s Silence
Labor rarely calls out think tanks directly, fearing retaliation from NewsCorp. This silence enables misinformation to flourish.
The Damage: Climate, Society, and Democracy
• Climate Paralysis: Years of IPA-led doubt campaigns stalled renewables and boosted fossil subsidies.
• Public Division: Media spin widens societal rifts – urban vs. rural, employed vs. job-seeker.
• Weakened Institutions: Think tanks frame the ABC, universities, and unions as enemies of freedom.
Anecdote: A Brisbane teacher recalls students parroting IPA lines about climate change. “They’re 16,” she says. “They heard it on TikTok. Sourced from Sky.”
Reclaiming the Narrative
1. Media Literacy in Schools
• Teach students to identify bias, verify sources, and spot propaganda.
2. Expose Think Tank Funding
• Push for laws mandating full disclosure of donors.
• Highlight foreign and corporate influence in political decision-making.
3. Support Independent and Factual Think Tanks
Not all think tanks distort the truth. Some actively promote public-interest research and transparency.
• The Australia Institute: Known for progressive, evidence-based research on climate policy, inequality, and corporate influence.
• Grattan Institute: Produces detailed, non-partisan reports on health, education, energy, and public sector reform.
• Per Capita: Focuses on fairness, social justice, and sustainable economic policy.
These organisations are essential counterweights to corporate-funded voices. Supporting them strengthens democracy.
4. Support Independent Media
• Fund and share content from outlets like Michael West Media, Crikey, and Social Justice Australia.
5. Political Pressure for Accountability
• Demand that MPs disclose ties to think tanks.
• Campaign for the ABC to be protected from partisan cuts.
Summary: This Is Our Fight for Truth
Conservative think tanks like the IPA are not just opinion shops. They are political actors.
They muddy facts, manipulate public debate, and delay progress. With powerful media and political allies, they have shaped Australia’s political climate for decades.
But citizens can push back. With awareness, education, and collective action, we can dismantle their influence and restore integrity to public discourse.
❓ Reader Question:
Have you encountered misinformation that shaped how you or others viewed an issue? How did you discover the truth?
Q&A Section
Q1: Why do these think tanks have so much influence?
Because they are well-funded, media-connected, and often operate with little oversight. Their polished reports are used by politicians and journalists to support predetermined agendas.
Q2: Is there any transparency in their funding?
Not legally required in Australia. Many hide their donors behind charitable status. Transparency laws are urgently needed.
Q3: What role can citizens play in reducing their impact?
Support independent media and fact-based think tanks, pressure politicians, challenge misinformation on social platforms, and raise awareness in your community.
Call to Action
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References:
Australian Institute
Grattan Institute
Per Capita
Independent Media
This article was originally published on Social Justice Australia
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HOW TO CONTROL THE IPA?? Simple!! Control the quantum of annual donations.
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1) Have every donation made ONLY BY NATURAL PERSONS AND PUBLICLY ANNOPUNCED ON A 24/7 WEB PAGE FOR POLITICAL DONATIONS within 48 hours of donation. Penalty for failure to disclose = 5 x value of donation.
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The listing should include the names of any & all corporations in which the donor has any pecuniary interest or employment relationship.
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The big names should not be worried, but many nervous nellies will be discouraged.
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2) limit the quantum of donations to $1,000 per donor per (rolling) year. Penalty for exceeding limit = 5x donation.
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