Government’s Climate Silence Enables Disinformation as Extreme Weather Intensifies

As Australia grapples with unprecedented extreme weather events, a concerning pattern has emerged: government silence on the climate change connection is creating an information vacuum that disinformation campaigns are eagerly filling.

Analysis of government communications during January 2026’s record-breaking climate disasters reveals a striking reluctance by key officials to link these events to climate change, despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the connection.

The month saw historic heatwaves across South Australia, with Renmark recording 49.6°C and Ceduna hitting 49.5°C. In Victoria, both Walpeup and Hopetoun reached a scorching 48.9°C. These extreme temperatures, combined with prolonged drought conditions, triggered devastating bushfires that consumed 400,000 hectares of bushland and farmland, primarily in Victoria.

Simultaneously, unprecedented rainfall along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road displaced hundreds, sweeping away cars, caravans, and tents, with dramatic images of vehicles floating out to sea dominating news coverage. Central Queensland experienced record-breaking floods that significantly impacted towns, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Despite these events receiving saturation media coverage, a survey of 125 media statements and transcripts from four key Cabinet members – the Prime Minister and the Climate, Assistant Climate, and Emergency Services Ministers – found the relationship between extreme weather and climate change was mentioned just twice during this period.

The Prime Minister made only one reference to climate change in 42 transcripts, using cautious language that appeared to placate climate skeptics: “Australia has always had natural weather events, so you can’t say any specific event is just because of climate change.” The Climate Minister and Assistant Climate Minister made no mentions at all, while the Emergency Services Minister referenced it once, only after direct questioning by a journalist.

Even more concerning, across 62 interviews and press conferences, journalists asked about the climate change connection only once – a troubling indicator of the state of climate journalism in Australia.

This communication strategy creates what experts are calling a “climate vacuum,” allowing disinformation to flourish. Richard Kirkman, chief executive of Veolia in Australia, highlighted the consequences, noting that polling showed a decline in public acceptance of human-caused climate change – from 60% in 2024 to just 53% by November 2025.

The government’s silence comes at a time when Australia faces mounting pressure to accelerate its transition to renewable energy, electric transport, and sustainable industrial processes. The recent US-Israel war on Iran has triggered another oil crisis, further emphasizing Australia’s vulnerability to global fossil fuel market disruptions and the need to phase out coal and gas exports.

Meanwhile, anti-renewable energy and climate skepticism campaigns continue making inroads across the country. Climate disinformation is recognized globally as a key impediment to climate action, with experts advocating for rebuilding trusted information systems that governments and communities can rely on.

Security concerns are also mounting. A new survey by the National Security College finds that most Australians believe the nation is underprepared for climate threats and that the government shares too little information about the challenges the country faces. This sentiment was reinforced by the Prime Minister’s decision not to release Australia’s first-ever climate and security risk assessment, even in a declassified form – a departure from the practice of Australia’s allies.

Climate policy experts argue that extreme weather events represent crucial “teachable moments” – opportunities to educate people about the connection between current experiences and their bigger-picture causes. By failing to utilize these moments, the government is missing critical opportunities to build public understanding and support for climate action.

As the Senate Select Committee inquiry on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy prepares its final report, the government’s approach appears increasingly at odds with the urgent need to counter climate disinformation with factual, science-based communication.

The bottom line, according to climate security analysts: silence facilitates disinformation, and the government’s reluctance to speak clearly about climate science is making it complicit in the problem.