❓ Opposition asks the Minister for Education about his social media use, specifically regarding a Facebook photo he 'liked'. The Minister defends his actions, stating he was unaware of the full content of the photo and values social media for community interaction.
AnsweredQoN 65Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION — SOCIAL MEDIA SITE
65. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Education:
(1) Does the
minister stand by his comments last week about the inappropriate use of social
media and that he did not see that part of the Facebook photo that was
offensive?
(2) Has the
minister ever been issued with advice, a policy or protocol from the Premier or
any officer in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet or the Public Sector
Commissioner on the use of social media?
(3) If yes to
(2), when was that advice issued and will the minister undertake to table that
advice?
65. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Education:
(1) Does the
minister stand by his comments last week about the inappropriate use of social
media and that he did not see that part of the Facebook photo that was
offensive?
(2) Has the
minister ever been issued with advice, a policy or protocol from the Premier or
any officer in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet or the Public Sector
Commissioner on the use of social media?
(3) If yes to
(2), when was that advice issued and will the minister undertake to table that
advice?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) Yes. I really
do have no problem with this, I have to be honest. Can I say to the Leader of
the Opposition, I stand by exactly what I said in the media last week. I had
absolutely no idea about the full content of the photograph on Facebook. I
actually enjoy Facebook; it is a great opportunity to interact with members of
the community. I get an enormous amount of response from members of the
community with regard to constituent issues. I have interaction with government
and the processes of government and, for someone who has not been attuned to
social media whatsoever, I find it a very valuable weapon with which to
interact with the community.
I appreciate that the Leader of
the Opposition—I can only go by comments from the media—does
not believe me in this instance, but can I assure her and this house that I had
absolutely no idea, and there are a number of reasons. One clicks on a photo
until it comes up to a whole photo. I can assure her that if I had known the
full content of that photograph, I would not have put a ''Like''
on the photograph. I can absolutely categorically assure the Leader of the
Opposition, hand on heart, that that is the case. That is fact.
(2)–(3) With
regard to social media, we have been encouraged to get into social media as
much as we can. There is talk about whether we tweet. I am not into tweeting;
it is probably a bridge too far for me. I have discussed Facebook, obviously,
with my media adviser and receive regular, intensive advice on what we do with
my Facebook page. It is a very interactive Facebook page. It is a very good,
safe Facebook page. As I said, we get a lot of interaction. A lot of comments,
a lot of support and a lot of messages come to me. As I said, I find it a very
valuable tool for interacting, particularly with the broad base of the
community. As I said to the media last week, yes it was a mistake, and, in
retrospect, it was a silly mistake. It certainly was not a conscious mistake. I
can assure the Leader of the Opposition I most definitely did not know the full
extent of the photograph; if I had, I most definitely would not have ''liked''
it.
some notice of this question.
(1) Yes. I really
do have no problem with this, I have to be honest. Can I say to the Leader of
the Opposition, I stand by exactly what I said in the media last week. I had
absolutely no idea about the full content of the photograph on Facebook. I
actually enjoy Facebook; it is a great opportunity to interact with members of
the community. I get an enormous amount of response from members of the
community with regard to constituent issues. I have interaction with government
and the processes of government and, for someone who has not been attuned to
social media whatsoever, I find it a very valuable weapon with which to
interact with the community.
I appreciate that the Leader of
the Opposition—I can only go by comments from the media—does
not believe me in this instance, but can I assure her and this house that I had
absolutely no idea, and there are a number of reasons. One clicks on a photo
until it comes up to a whole photo. I can assure her that if I had known the
full content of that photograph, I would not have put a ''Like''
on the photograph. I can absolutely categorically assure the Leader of the
Opposition, hand on heart, that that is the case. That is fact.
(2)–(3) With
regard to social media, we have been encouraged to get into social media as
much as we can. There is talk about whether we tweet. I am not into tweeting;
it is probably a bridge too far for me. I have discussed Facebook, obviously,
with my media adviser and receive regular, intensive advice on what we do with
my Facebook page. It is a very interactive Facebook page. It is a very good,
safe Facebook page. As I said, we get a lot of interaction. A lot of comments,
a lot of support and a lot of messages come to me. As I said, I find it a very
valuable tool for interacting, particularly with the broad base of the
community. As I said to the media last week, yes it was a mistake, and, in
retrospect, it was a silly mistake. It certainly was not a conscious mistake. I
can assure the Leader of the Opposition I most definitely did not know the full
extent of the photograph; if I had, I most definitely would not have ''liked''
it.
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