Australia’s senior public officials are advocating for limitations on how video footage from parliamentary hearings is edited and disseminated on social media. The Secretaries Board, which comprises the heads of various government departments, has expressed concerns that clips shared without proper context can subject officials to ridicule and harassment. They argue that public servants have not agreed to the use of their images and testimonies for political aims or in ways that might harm both individuals and the broader public service.
In a bid to prevent such misuse, the board has proposed that footage from parliamentary hearings should remain unedited and should not include captions when shared online. Additionally, they recommend restrictions on political content that singles out individual officials for mockery or harassment. The board suggests that making full recordings and transcripts of hearings available, while disabling comments, would ensure public scrutiny remains focused on evidence and accountability rather than personal attacks.
This proposal has emerged following concerns voiced by Defence Department deputy secretary Celia Perkins. She noted that public servants providing evidence had not consented to having their testimony reposted on social media outside the formal parliamentary process. Despite these concerns, her request was denied by a Senate committee, which acted on advice from the Senate clerk.
Opposition to the proposed restrictions has been voiced by Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May. She contends that parliamentary hearings are public events and that Australians should have the freedom to access and share their content. While she acknowledges the importance of maintaining respectful public discourse, she warns that limiting how parliamentarians can use footage could undermine parliamentary scrutiny and reduce transparency.