As 2026 kicks off, we are witnessing authoritarianism on the rise globally, led by the leader of our strongest ally, the US, who is systematically undermining trust in democracy.

President Trump's tactics have all the hallmarks of democratic decline: attacking electoral integrity, assaulting judicial independence, expanding presidential control over government agencies, ignoring international law and vilifying the free
press as "fake news" to discredit opponents and obscure truth.

By destroying trust in legitimate sources of information, authoritarians ensure citizens have nowhere reliable to turn. Inconvenient truths are dismissed as fabrications and misinformation
is weaponised to blur the lines between fact and fiction.

Without mutual respect and informed debate, communities fracture along ideological lines.

With misinformation, disinformation, and AI deepfakes flooding our online spaces, distinguishing truth from lies becomes significantly harder.

Social media platforms amplify outrage, and their algorithms create echo chambers, feeding people information that reinforces their existing beliefs.

Conspiracy theories thrive in these closed loops.

Neighbours who once disagreed respectfully now inhabit entirely different information ecosystems.

When communities become so polarised that civil discourse breaks down, democracy is at risk.

Face to face discussions can be an antidote to this polarisation and loss of common truths. The policy events we have held here in Curtin give me hope.

The people who attend our policy events listen to each other considerately and are usually curious about understanding the issues and sharing their views.

I would love you to join me in a discussion about how Australia can prioritise information integrity – by supporting quality journalism, building media literacy, combating misinformation while protecting free speech, and demanding transparency from online platforms that shape our information systems.

To learn more about information integrity, join me and Dr Catherine Williams, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Integrity, on Thursday 19 February.