❓ Question regarding the Premier's response to the Minister for Education's inappropriate social media activity, specifically 'liking' an indecent photo of a teenage boy. The Premier defends the Minister's actions as an innocent mistake.
AnsweredQoN 155Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER
FOR EDUCATION — SOCIAL MEDIA SITE
155. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
Given recent concerns over the improper use of social media
in our schools, I refer to the Minister for Education's admission last
week that his use of social media was inappropriate in relation to ''liking''
an indecent photo of a teenage boy.
(1) When was
the Premier informed of the situation?
(2) Has he
discussed this with the minister?
(3) What
disciplinary action will the Premier take against the minister?
(4) Is he, as
Premier, confident that there has been no other inappropriate use of social
media by this or any other minister?
FOR EDUCATION — SOCIAL MEDIA SITE
155. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
Given recent concerns over the improper use of social media
in our schools, I refer to the Minister for Education's admission last
week that his use of social media was inappropriate in relation to ''liking''
an indecent photo of a teenage boy.
(1) When was
the Premier informed of the situation?
(2) Has he
discussed this with the minister?
(3) What
disciplinary action will the Premier take against the minister?
(4) Is he, as
Premier, confident that there has been no other inappropriate use of social
media by this or any other minister?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for the question.
(1)–(4)
I became aware of this from one of my staff just before it appeared on, I
think, Channel Seven news, virtually within a few minutes, maybe half an hour,
of it being covered. It may surprise members that I do not use social media. I
am not into that but a lot of people are. If members visit sites—friends
and the like—a person who may access that does not know what the
material will be. I think quite innocently—I accept Hon Peter Collier's
explanation—he accessed the site; an image came up. It was meant to be
a joke; meant to be funny—I do not know; I do not know the person
involved, and the minister just routinely pressed the ''Like''
button to a whole lot of other groups of people.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You can't routinely press a button.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Girrawheen should be very careful. If she is implying something,
she needs to be very careful about what she says. I think it was an innocent
situation. As the minister said, it points to the dangers of social media,
particularly for people in public office or prominent positions in the
community. I do not see any wrongdoing in that other than the fact the minister
admitted —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You don't see any wrongdoing? He is a 56-year-old man.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No; perhaps to put the image on the site was wrong, yes.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Liking it's wrong too.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
thought the minister explained himself perfectly well that he did not even
notice the exposure of the young person.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He flicked through. I accept that as one of the dangers of social media; he
made it very clear that he was embarrassed by the situation. As far as I am
concerned, that is it.
member for the question.
(1)–(4)
I became aware of this from one of my staff just before it appeared on, I
think, Channel Seven news, virtually within a few minutes, maybe half an hour,
of it being covered. It may surprise members that I do not use social media. I
am not into that but a lot of people are. If members visit sites—friends
and the like—a person who may access that does not know what the
material will be. I think quite innocently—I accept Hon Peter Collier's
explanation—he accessed the site; an image came up. It was meant to be
a joke; meant to be funny—I do not know; I do not know the person
involved, and the minister just routinely pressed the ''Like''
button to a whole lot of other groups of people.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You can't routinely press a button.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Girrawheen should be very careful. If she is implying something,
she needs to be very careful about what she says. I think it was an innocent
situation. As the minister said, it points to the dangers of social media,
particularly for people in public office or prominent positions in the
community. I do not see any wrongdoing in that other than the fact the minister
admitted —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
You don't see any wrongdoing? He is a 56-year-old man.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No; perhaps to put the image on the site was wrong, yes.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Liking it's wrong too.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
thought the minister explained himself perfectly well that he did not even
notice the exposure of the young person.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He flicked through. I accept that as one of the dangers of social media; he
made it very clear that he was embarrassed by the situation. As far as I am
concerned, that is it.
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