Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

The rise of One Nation from 6½ per cent of the national vote at the federal election last year to polling over 30 per cent in nine months is a political anomaly the likes of which we have never seen in this country before. It's an established political party that's campaigned on the same issues for nearly three decades—at a time when Australians have been moving away from major parties for the last decade—suddenly jumping from nearly 400 or 500 per cent in the space of nine months. Yet, the commentariat in this country are treating it like it's business as usual—that somehow they've tapped into how people are feeling about politics. It's a protest vote. It's a vote against the major parties.

Well, they're ignoring the elephant in the room. One Nation have risen because they have a massive machine behind them. They're making no secret of the fact that they're tied in with Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, and no doubt have significant funds behind them. We're not talking about the massive international misinformation and disinformation machine. We know foreign websites have been pumping out up to 400 fake posts a week using deepfake AI promoting One Nation. The Senate select committee that I chaired called for an independent investigation into this, but it's getting worse.

I ask senators to read the book Angertainment by Ed Coper. That, I think, is one of the best explainers as to why we live in an age that desperately needs new solutions; otherwise, we risk our very democracy disappearing before our eyes. Seriously, to use some pub vernacular, this country needs to wake the fuck up to what is going on in the sphere of social media—

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, could you please withdraw the use of that term.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll withdraw that use of pub vernacular, Acting Deputy President. But my point is very serious: if we don't do something about this cancer, it will kill our democracy in the years ahead. The outrage and the anger that One Nation are appealing to are the algorithm and social media.