Australia’s top bureaucrats want to block sharing of clips from parliament on social media to save them from ‘ridicule’

The nation’s top bureaucrats want the Albanese government to ban video footage from parliamentary hearings being edited and shared on social media, in an extraordinary attempt to stop online ridicule and abuse. But the Greens say highly paid public service chiefs shouldn’t be allowed to control footage from open parliamentary hearings, warning the proposed controls would limit a key tool of government transparency. The secretaries board – made up of the heads of government departments and chaired by the Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Steven Kennedy – said they were concerned about material from hearings being presented online without proper context.

Politicians and political parties doing so exposed officials to “ridicule, hostility and abuse”, the board said. Politicians would also be stopped from sharing content or commentary that targets individual officials for ridicule or harassment. Calling for footage of full hearings and transcripts to be made available instead of clips, and for comments to be disabled, the board said its proposal would ensure “that scrutiny remains focused on evidence, administration and accountability rather than becoming personal”.

The proposal also includes concerns that members of parliament might not have a clear understanding of the role and responsibilities of public servants, when compared with government ministers. The board called for clearer explanation, including for newer MPs. The push comes after defence department deputy secretary, Celia Perkins, told a parliamentary hearing last week that public servants giving evidence did not consent to footage being shared on social media.

The Senate foreign affairs, defence and trade committee rejected Perkins’ request on the advice of the Senate clerk. Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May told Guardian Australia that members of the public had the right to see footage from hearings into government scrutiny. Australians deserve more transparency and accountability, not less.

And frankly, if this scrutiny wasn’t having an impact, they wouldn’t be so worried about it.” The secretaries board includes all departmental chiefs, the Australian Public Service commissioner and the chief executive of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.