Australia’s woke national broadcaster the ABC has been criticised over an article blaming child marriages in third world Muslim countries on “climate change”.
The ABC News article, headlined “Climate change becoming a major driver of child marriage across Asia and the Pacific”, featured on claims by an NGO called Plan International that “climate change impacts” cause spikes in child marriage.
The article also cited statistics from the International Rescue Committee that child marriages “can surge by up to 39%” after natural disasters in Bangladesh, and claimed that “scientists and meteorologists say” a warmer atmosphere and rising sea levels were increasing the intensity and impact of tropic storms.
The ABC piece also quoted Plan International representatives who said they were worried a predicted severe El Niño weather pattern this year would “intensify” the risk of child marriage in the Asia Pacific region, and called for Australian government assistance.
But the article sparked a massive backlash on social media, where many Aussies called it an example of left-wing propaganda.
DEFUND THE ABC NOW!
When the ABC shamelessly hides behind the BS excuse of “climate change” to defend children in hijabs being married off in Islamic countries, you know it’s long past time to DEFUND THE ABC!
Our hard-earned taxes should NOT be wasted on this vile,… pic.twitter.com/8z0yAgki0F
— Craig Kelly:🇦🇺Foundation for Economic Education (@craigkellyAFEE) July 11, 2026
There were no child marriages before they discovered carbon dioxide. https://t.co/XmUkKmnthb
— David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) July 11, 2026
Zero agency. That’s what they give these people.
If a family in a third world country sells their daughter, it’s not their fault. It’s not their society’s fault, not their moral framework. It’s your fault, for having air conditioning. https://t.co/lkex24SXsf
— LeeKuanYewRespecter (@LeeRespecter) July 11, 2026
Australian public broadcaster says that third worlders do child marriage because of climate change
So true. https://t.co/9MzKw8ToxB pic.twitter.com/Oj0fg9H6nZ
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) July 10, 2026
The abc in Australia, the government funded news propaganda machine of the Labor party
Blames forced child marriages, where children get raped, on climate change.
The journalist, is of course a white leftist woman.
Defund the abc immediately. https://t.co/0LD2ozlWAC
— BroBro🇦🇺🏇🏻 (@realRick_AUS) July 11, 2026
“When the ABC shamelessly hides behind the BS excuse of ‘climate change’ to defend children in hijabs being married off in Islamic countries, you know it’s long past time to DEFUND THE ABC!” wrote former Liberal MP Craig Kelly.
“Our hard-earned taxes should NOT be wasted on this vile, taxpayer-funded propaganda. Why won’t the ABC tell the truth? Child brides are a barbaric, all-too-common practice in Islamic countries – and they have been for centuries!”
“There were no child marriages before they discovered carbon dioxide,” wrote former Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm.
“The ABC in Australia, the government-funded news propaganda machine of the Labor party, blames forced child marriages, where children get raped, on climate change. The journalist, is of course a White leftist woman,” another Aussie wrote.
“Zero agency. That’s what they give these people. If a family in a third world country sells their daughter, it’s not their fault. It’s not their society’s fault, not their moral framework. It’s your fault, for having air conditioning,” said a fourth.
Header image: A Bangladeshi woman whose mother forced her to marry a stranger at age 15 after a cyclone (Plan International).
