Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 1:11:02 to 1:19:59
Officials address the accidental publication of an 'overtly political' media release on the department website and subsequent changes to oversight protocols.
Topics: Government advertising, Integrity
Speakers: Senator Paul Scarr, Catherine Rule, Jody Anderson, Simon Duggan, Unknown Speaker, Senator Marielle Smith
Yeah. All right. So I've got one more series of questions. And this is in relation to, and again I wasn't here for these estimates, but it's in relation to a media release that was on the department's website and then was subsequently removed after my friend and colleague, Senator Namper Jimpa Price raised concerns. So Secretary, you provided evidence in relation to that matter back on to June, you remember the issue? I do, Senator, yep. Okay. As I understand it, you told this committee, quote, as soon as that error was pointed out to us, we removed it from the website. And uh Ms. Tuckwell? Oh, hello, how are you?
Hello.
Um just with a reminder, if you could place your um cards in front of the microphone. Thank you.
Thank you. Tuckwell, as I understand it, you told the committee it it was, quote, rectified from my recollection within 24 hours. Is that correct?
Uh that was my evidence at the time, yes.
Okay. Uh and then we received an answer on notice. That I think provided us a timeline that it was published originally on 2 March and removed on 11 March. Is that correct?
That is correct, yes.
So that was nine days between publication and removal. Is that correct?
Yes. And I think the important words there in my original evidence were my recollection at the time. So once we went back and had a good look at the timeline, there was obviously some some changes there.
Okay, but it is true, isn't it, that it was only removed the day after Senator Namper Jimper Price's office raised the issue on 10 March.
Yes, and I think at the time that's that's what I was considering in terms of the 24 hours.
So it wasn't identified as an issue within the department. It was identified as an issue by Senator Nampa Jimpa Price, and it was only after Senator Namper Jimpa Price raised the issue through her office that the release was removed. Is that correct?
That is correct, yes.
All right. So you're uh can I take it then you're formally you're now formally correcting the the evidence that you previously gave? Is that correct?
Well, I I think what I'm trying to explain is that what I was considering was the the time period from being notified to removing the media release from the website.
Okay. So you went when you referred to that 24 hours, that's the 24 hours you were referring to.
Correct.
Yeah. So the answer that you gave on notice said the director of media.
So that's uh a staff member that reports to me on the reports to you? Assistant Secretary of Communication Committee.
The Director of Media judged the media release as quote, overtly political. Is that correct?
That is correct.
So it begs the question as to Secretary, I'll I'll seek your input on this as well. So I understand it you've got about 54 FTE within this communication and media branch. It raises a question in my mind as to how it wasn't picked up. Well, the initial process which led to it being onboarded onto the site, and then why it wasn't picked up in the course of nine days. Can you I might ask you, Ms. Tuckwell, to explain that and then Secretary, I'll seek uh seek your input.
So Senator, I might um jump in before Ms. Tuckwell if that's okay. Um Does Ms.
Tuckwell report to you?
She does. Okay, Ms. So therefore, you know, I take accountability for this issue uh as much as anybody else. So um I think our evidence um both in the quann um the answer to the question on notice and at the previous hearing is that um the media release was published in error um by a junior staff member who didn't correctly apply the guidance um around which materials should be published published to which websites. Um so we've acknowledged that error. As soon as we became aware of the error, um we corrected it. Um but I think we um have been very clear and focused on making sure that we um strengthen the systems to try and prevent those kind of errors happening in the future, but also detecting um if things are published in error so that we can act more quickly and not need to rely on somebody else to bring it to our attention. So I think there's been a series of things that um Ms. Tuckwell and her team have focused on, including strengthening those procedures, um lifting the level at which people have the authority to you know authorise things to be published on websites, um reinforcing guidelines with the staff in the communications um branch just to ensure that we're not in this position again because it was a I think I said at the last hearing this was a human error and we need to make sure that we strengthen our systems and processes to try and prevent those things in in the future.
But it's true, isn't it, Ms. Rule, that your systems and processes should be robust enough. The human, perhaps an understandable human error by junior staff member uh should be picked up, uh especially when you're publishing something public like this. Is that correct? Is that a fair comment?
It's a fair comment, and as I said, we've um elevated the level at which people have the authority to publish those things and we've strengthened the oversight um of those matters to ensure that we're not um inadvertently publishing things in the wrong places.
Yeah, Senator, just to add, so it was an error to put put the web the press release on to the website? Our systems and procedures should have picked it up internally rather than relying on um Senator to bring it to our attention? Once it was brought to our attention, we acted we acted within 24 hours to to address the issue. So we acknowledge our systems and procedures were not were not what they should have been, and uh we have made significant efforts since then to do that and to engage with all of our staff. I I don't want this to be attributed as as an error by a junior staff member. This this was indicative of our systems and procedures not being as robust as they should have been.
Okay. Well that's the correct character characterisation. Can you take on notice how many page views it got whilst it was up?
Uh yeah, we'll take that on notice if that's the first time. Thank you. We'll provide it.
Uh as I understand it, the release came from the media adviser in the office of the minister. Uh what communication have you had with the Minister's Office in relation to this matter? Can you take that on notice, please?
I can advise that we have provided them with our updated protocols.
Okay. And have there been any instances since July 2022? Again, you can take this on notice where the Minister's office has provided material for publication on your media website where it was to use the words that are used overtly political. And you've refused to publish it?
Sorry, could you just repeat the time frame of that question?
From July 2022.
July 2022. I think we would need to take that on notice.
Okay, if you can take that on notice. Have you engaged in an audit of the rest of the website since this occurred, just to make sure there's nothing else there that's overtly political?
Yes, we have reviewed the website. Rule's.
Did you find anything else?
I would have to be taken down. I don't believe so, no.
You don't believe so. Ms. Rule, are you?
I'm aware of, Senator.
So as I understand it, there's a and I just have two more questions, Chair. Uh the new directive to escalate contentious material was issued on uh 13 March, is that correct?
That would be about right, yes.
Okay. Is it in writing?
Yes.
Can you table it? Do you have it?
Uh I don't have it with me, but we could we could table it.
Uh and I made my fair share of mistakes. Uh was there any counselling provided to anyone above that level with respect to discharge of their responsibilities?
Because I am surprised to tell you the truth that it wasn't picked up in those nine days.
Senator, as I said earlier, um, you know, I I I see myself as accountable for this. This sits in an area of the business for which I'm responsible. Um