News & Resources
Check out the latest news, our media releases and our resources below.
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28 October 2026
Australia's democracy needs a digital duty of care
Experts in digital rights, political transparency, media freedom and education policy call on all federal parliamentarians to support the establishment of a Digital Duty of Care. By prioritising extreme and polarising content to keep users engaged, algorithms funnel people into silos and echo chambers.
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27 October 2026
From the food in your fridge to national security, further AI-powered hacks are "inevitable" unless companies held accountable
The warning today from Australia's top cyber intelligence agency that more AI-powered data breaches and service disruptions are inevitable, underscores the need for basic laws and standards for tech companies.
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21 October 2026
Support to ensure politicians remain accessible to voters
One of the great strengths of Australian democracy is that politicians are on the ground, talking with the people they represent, and are visible members of their communities.
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20 October 2026
Statement from Democracy Counts on Helen Haines
Democracy Counts is shocked and deeply saddened by the news that Helen Haines MP has been critically injured after being struck by a car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.
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1 October 2026
AEC warning over deepfakes shows AI regulation is a matter of democratic survival
The warning from the nation's independent electoral body that AI deepfakes pose a "significant threat to electoral integrity" is a wake-up call on the need for governments to implement basic rules on tech platforms – not just for user safety, but also to safeguard democracy.
FILES & PUBLICATIONS
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23 October 2026
Tom Mooney’s address at the 2026 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia Annual Conference
Delivered on Friday 23 October 2026 at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) Annual Conference.
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22 September 2026
Submission: Exposure draft Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026
A healthy democracy requires people to start with a shared set of facts, and to be aware of the different experiences and opinions of others. However, algorithms and digital platforms have the potential to lock users in ‘echo chambers’ and proliferate fake and misleading content, contributing to declining trust in our democracy and democratic institutions.
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14 September 2026
Submission: Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence
Along with opportunity, AI presents several known challenges to Australia's democracy and democracy institutions. Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping Australia’s economy, institutions and information environment. While AI offers opportunities to improve democracy participation and public administration, including by making disparate evidence and large data sets easier to interrogate, it is also likely to accelerate many of the challenges Australia’s democracy already faces.
24 July 2026
Submission: Australia's small and independent publishers and broadcasters are cautiously welcoming the federal government's long awaited News Bargaining Incentive legislation, introduced this afternoon.
Submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into social media and online safety.
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24 March 2026
The State of Australia's Democracy - Report
Understanding how Australians think about the threats and opportunities, including common-sense actions to review trust in politics.
APO Collection
The Democracy Counts collection, hosted by Australian Policy Online (APO) brings together key research published in recent years to support our calls for practical, people‑focused reforms to strengthen democratic systems and public trust.
The collection organises this research according to our democratic renewal ‘themes’: These include clearer policy commitments from political parties and candidates, limits on the revolving door between politics and lobbying, protections for an impartial public service, modern civics education with digital and media literacy, and stronger regulation of social media alongside investment in public‑interest journalism. Together, the collection provides evidence to support informed debate and meaningful democratic reform.
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