The ethics committee has published a report into an alleged contempt of Parliament by Shannon Fentiman, the state’s minister for health, mental health and ambulance services and minister for women.
A video posted by Fentiman related to a discussion in Parliament on maternity services during which Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates was heard to say “cross your legs”.
An initial version of the video misquoted Bates’ remark in a caption as being “close your legs” and that was later corrected by Fentiman.
Bates withdrew the remark in Parliament, but the video posted by Fentiman saw Bates cop criticism on social media for her interjection.
The video and its presentation online were initially deemed by the speaker to have misrepresented the discussion. The ethics committee was asked to look at whether the minister had published a misleading account of proceedings.
Committee members found Fentiman was initially in contempt of the parliamentary rules with the first iteration of her video post.
“With respect to the minister’s first post including an incorrect caption, the committee found this to be a technical contempt,” the report says.
“As soon as the minister was alerted to the incorrect captioning, the post was replaced with the correct captioning.”
The committee was unable to establish grounds for contempt with the second video Fentiman posted online.
Fentiman might have escaped being found in contempt of Parliament, but she received criticism for the video posted published by her.
“The minister’s use of social media to reflect the proceedings of the House in this matter was arguably unbecoming for a minister of the crown,” the committee report says.
“The committee did not make a finding of contempt in relation to the minister’s second post, however, it is of the strong opinion that the minister’s conduct was not appropriate.”
Committee members also noted that Bates was subjected to abuse following the minister’s posts online, and that the issue should have remained on the floor of Parliament rather than published and amplified via social media.
“The member’s interjection was dealt with by the Speaker in the House at the time. That is where the matter should have ended,” the report says.
“One member’s disorderly conduct in the chamber does not provide a licence for another member to further prosecute the issue.”
The committee report contains a caution for politicians when using social media in this manner.
“Whilst no member can control the public commentary on social media, this arguably places a higher duty of care on members for their social media posts,” the report says.
“Members should not be tempted by the benefits of disseminating information widely and rapidly through social media without considering any potential harm or liability for public comments on their social media pages.”
The warning for Queensland MPs on the usage of social media in day-to-day work comes after the passage of the law establishing the federal Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
It was during that debate that coalition Senator Jane Hume reminded parliamentarians about their obligations to reflect on their own behaviour.
“All parties, parliamentarians and staff, have a role in improving Parliament’s culture. We each have a role,” Hume said.
“It would serve us all well if, when we consider what role we each have in improving the culture of our workplace, our first instinct is to reflect and self-assess rather than assume the worst in others.”
Valintus on
Let’s just remove the social media part and state that politicians have a higher duty of care then anyone else yeah? They are our leaders and should be held to the highest of standards.
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The ethics committee has published a report into an alleged contempt of Parliament by Shannon Fentiman, the state’s minister for health, mental health and ambulance services and minister for women.
A video posted by Fentiman related to a discussion in Parliament on maternity services during which Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates was heard to say “cross your legs”.
An initial version of the video misquoted Bates’ remark in a caption as being “close your legs” and that was later corrected by Fentiman.
Bates withdrew the remark in Parliament, but the video posted by Fentiman saw Bates cop criticism on social media for her interjection.
The video and its presentation online were initially deemed by the speaker to have misrepresented the discussion. The ethics committee was asked to look at whether the minister had published a misleading account of proceedings.
Committee members found Fentiman was initially in contempt of the parliamentary rules with the first iteration of her video post.
“With respect to the minister’s first post including an incorrect caption, the committee found this to be a technical contempt,” the report says.
“As soon as the minister was alerted to the incorrect captioning, the post was replaced with the correct captioning.”
The committee was unable to establish grounds for contempt with the second video Fentiman posted online.
Fentiman might have escaped being found in contempt of Parliament, but she received criticism for the video posted published by her.
“The minister’s use of social media to reflect the proceedings of the House in this matter was arguably unbecoming for a minister of the crown,” the committee report says.
“The committee did not make a finding of contempt in relation to the minister’s second post, however, it is of the strong opinion that the minister’s conduct was not appropriate.”
Committee members also noted that Bates was subjected to abuse following the minister’s posts online, and that the issue should have remained on the floor of Parliament rather than published and amplified via social media.
“The member’s interjection was dealt with by the Speaker in the House at the time. That is where the matter should have ended,” the report says.
“One member’s disorderly conduct in the chamber does not provide a licence for another member to further prosecute the issue.”
The committee report contains a caution for politicians when using social media in this manner.
“Whilst no member can control the public commentary on social media, this arguably places a higher duty of care on members for their social media posts,” the report says.
“Members should not be tempted by the benefits of disseminating information widely and rapidly through social media without considering any potential harm or liability for public comments on their social media pages.”
The warning for Queensland MPs on the usage of social media in day-to-day work comes after the passage of the law establishing the federal Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
It was during that debate that coalition Senator Jane Hume reminded parliamentarians about their obligations to reflect on their own behaviour.
“All parties, parliamentarians and staff, have a role in improving Parliament’s culture. We each have a role,” Hume said.
“It would serve us all well if, when we consider what role we each have in improving the culture of our workplace, our first instinct is to reflect and self-assess rather than assume the worst in others.”
Let’s just remove the social media part and state that politicians have a higher duty of care then anyone else yeah? They are our leaders and should be held to the highest of standards.