GetUp Rebuilds Capacity,Hires Sharaz to combat Misinformation and Far-Right Influence
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GetUp,Australia’s leading progressive political campaigning organization,has appointed former journalist David Sharaz to a senior role as it embarks on a significant rebuilding phase,aiming to counter the growing influence of conservative groups like Advance and address escalating concerns about misinformation and media accountability.
GetUp has been working to revitalize its operations after a period of consolidation marked by staff turnover and shifting political landscapes. The organization now boasts a growing membership base and a financial reserve exceeding $1 million, signaling a renewed capacity for impactful campaigning.
Sharaz, who most recently worked in public relations, brings a wealth of experiance to the role. his appointment is particularly notable given his marriage to Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal staffer whose allegations of sexual assault at Parliament house in 2021 sparked a national conversation and political upheaval. Sharaz will spearhead GetUp’s campaign work focusing on media accountability, the spread of misinformation, and broader political operations. He will draw on strategies employed by international organizations, including the UK-based media reform campaign, Hacked Off.
“Rupert Murdoch and his billionaire media mates have used their outlets as weapons, pursuing vendettas and distorting politics in this country,” stated a senior official within GetUp. “We can’t keep allowing that level of power to operate without scrutiny.”
Rising Threat from the Far-Right
The organization’s renewed focus comes amid growing concerns about the increasing organization and funding of far-right groups in Australia. GetUp’s interim co-chief executive, Paul Ferris, warned that these groups are effectively utilizing both traditional media and social media platforms to disseminate misleading information and distort political discourse.
“The democratic threat is real, and responding to it requires serious, experienced campaign infrastructure,” Ferris emphasized. “GetUp members see and understand this threat, and with their support we’ve rebuilt capacity, strengthened our financial position and are investing again in our movement people becuase the stakes are too high not to.”
Sharaz echoed this sentiment, outlining plans to expand GetUp’s campaigning and communications efforts in the lead-up to the next federal election, slated for early 2028.A key priority will be combating far-right groups and advocating for progressive policy outcomes from the Albanese government.
“When people feel isolated, ignored, and disenfranchised, they are pushed toward the political fringes, as recent polling shows,” Sharaz explained. “The lesson is clear: people need to see their concerns taken seriously and reflected in our political discourse.”
Background: The Higgins Case and Legal Battles
The appointment of Sharaz inevitably draws attention to the highly publicized case involving his wife, Brittany Higgins.Bruce Lehrmann, a former Coalition staffer, was initially charged with her rape at Parliament House. while a criminal trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct and a subsequent trial was halted due to concerns for Higgins’ wellbeing, a federal court later found, on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann had raped Higgins. Lehrmann is currently challenging this ruling in the High Court.
The legal fallout has been extensive. Lehrmann was ordered to pay $2 million in damages following a defamation loss and is responsible for covering the legal costs incurred by his opponents during the appeal. Both Higgins and Sharaz were declared bankrupt following defamation proceedings brought by Higgins’ former boss, Linda Reynolds, who served as Defence Minister from 2019 to 2021.
GetUp’s strategic shift and Sharaz’s appointment represent a persistent effort to reclaim a prominent role in Australian political discourse and safeguard democratic principles in an increasingly polarized environment.
