Australia’s top bureaucrats have urged the Albanese government to prohibit the editing and sharing of video footage from parliamentary hearings on social media, citing a desire to protect officials from ridicule and abuse.
The secretaries board, chaired by Steven Kennedy, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet chief, expressed concerns that uncontextualised clips could expose officials to hostility. While evidence presented to a committee is public record, officials did not consent to subsequent use of their likeness for party‑political purposes.
If the board’s recommendations are not adopted, it proposes rules to prevent editing or captioning of videos, restrict politicians from targeting officials for ridicule, and to make full hearings and transcripts available instead of clips. It also calls for disabling comments to keep scrutiny focused on evidence and accountability.
Greens senator Steph Hodgins‑May countered, saying bureaucrats should not decide where to draw the line on parliamentary scrutiny. She argued that restricting what parliamentarians can post would weaken transparency and accountability, and that the public has a right to see full footage.
The push follows a statement by Defence Department deputy secretary Celia Perkins, who said public servants did not consent to their evidence being shared on social media. The Senate foreign affairs, defence and trade committee rejected her request. The secretaries board also includes all departmental chiefs, the Australian Public Service commissioner, and the chief executive of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
