Orwell famously served in the Spanish Civil War and noted how while in Spain he continuously read news stories about things that quite obviously never actually happened. Small skirmishes he participated in, involving a few dozen soldiers, were written up as huge battles, complete with tanks and aircraft.

Mr Musk’s latest attack came in response to a rather extraordinary spray by ABC chairman Kim Williams at Joe Rogan, the world’s most popular podcaster who gave Mr Trump a major boost with a three-hour interview during the presidential election campaign.

The ABC's chair Kim Williams calls for more investment in the public broadcaster as a counter to the "flood" of online misinformation and disinformation, days after the federal government's decision to abandon legislation that would have forced social media giants to tackle harmful content on their platforms.

Sky News host Erin Molan has criticised ABC chairman Kim Williams after his attack on podcaster Joe Rogan earlier this week.

Joe Rogan reacts to ABC boss Kim Williams calling his content “Repulsive” and fearmongering. Kim Williams, who chairs Australia’s national broadcaster, criticized Joe Rogan for taking advantage of people’s weaknesses and treating the public unfairly.

Popular podcast host Joe Rogan has hit back at the verbal broadside against him by the ABC chairman who described the American media figure as "deeply repulsive".