Defence department backed bid to restrict social media sharing of Senate hearing footage
A senior official's proposal to limit online sharing of public servants' testimony cited bullying and security concerns.
At a glance
- Defence department secretary approved the proposal to restrict social media sharing of Senate hearing footage
- The request cited online bullying and national security concerns as reasons for the restriction
- The plan was flagged with offices of the deputy prime minister and assistant minister for defence
- The proposal has faced heavy criticism
The secretary of the defence department approved a senior official's plan to request that footage from a Senate hearing not be shared on social media, citing potential online bullying and national security risks. The proposal, made in September, was flagged with the offices of the deputy prime minister and assistant minister for defence.
Emails obtained under freedom of information laws show the plan received backing from the department secretary. The request has drawn significant criticism.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about government transparency and public access to parliamentary proceedings.
Original reporting
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