Several commentators have remarked that, while the mainstream media is locked in furious agreement with the government over AUKUS and the trillion dollar submarines (a guess at the final price tag), social and independent media are telling quite a different tale.

Australians are worried the government is becoming less transparent on key public issues including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration and climate change. Locally, the Byron Shire Council and the Byron Hospital has similar examples of blocking public access to information.