Key facts
- Defence secretary Meghan Quinn backed a proposal to restrict social media sharing of public servants' testimony.
- Deputy secretary Celia Perkins cited online bullying and national security risks as reasons for the restriction.
- Perkins' request to the Senate hearing was supported by the offices of the deputy prime minister and assistant minister for defence.
- Greens senator David Shoebridge objected to the proposal, calling it censorship of public hearings.
- The Senate committee rejected the request on the advice of the Senate clerk.
Defence department secretary Meghan Quinn supported a senior official's controversial plan to request that footage of public servants giving evidence at a Senate hearing not be shared on social media. Deputy secretary Celia Perkins argued that edited videos from previous hearings had led to distressing commentary, invited online bullying, and posed national security risks. Perkins' proposal was flagged with the offices of the deputy prime minister and assistant minister for defence. Greens senator David Shoebridge objected to the request, calling it censorship of public hearings. The committee ultimately rejected Perkins' request on the advice of the Senate clerk.