News corp australia executive defends climate coverage as “healthy debate” amid senate misinformation inquiry

News Corp Australia’s executive chair Michael Miller faced scrutiny this week during a Senate inquiry into climate and energy misinformation, where he defended his company’s practice of giving platforms to climate science skeptics and critics of Australia’s net-zero emissions targets.

Miller rejected characterizations of News Corp outlets as part of a coordinated “denial machine” spreading climate misinformation. Instead, he framed the company’s coverage of dissenting voices on climate action as an essential component of democratic discourse. “This is part of great democracy and healthy debate,” Miller told the Senate committee, emphasizing that there was no organizational strategy to systematically promote climate skepticism across News Corp’s various Australian publications.

The Senate inquiry is examining how misinformation about climate science and energy policy spreads through media channels, with particular focus on the role of major news organizations in shaping public understanding of climate issues. News Corp Australia operates several influential outlets including The Australian, Herald Sun, and Sky News Australia, which have previously faced criticism from environmental advocates for their coverage of climate science and policy debates.

Miller’s testimony highlights the ongoing tension between media companies’ claims of editorial independence and critics’ concerns about the impact of climate skepticism in mainstream media. As Australia grapples with implementing its net-zero emissions commitments and navigating energy transition policies, the role of media coverage in public climate discourse remains a contentious issue. The inquiry’s findings could influence how news organizations approach climate reporting and fact-checking in the future.