Social media platforms provide significant opportunities for Victorian Government departments, agencies and entities to engage with the public.
Departments, agencies and entities can build audiences and generate engagement by opening up a two-way conversation with the public. This interaction plays an important role in delivering communications about the policies and operations of government, but there are risks, including staff welfare, being sued for defamation and inadvertently misrepresenting the policies of the government. This is particularly important in the context of the recent case of Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller where the High Court determined that an entity that operates social media accounts can be considered the publisher of third-party comments1 and could be liable in defamation for such comments.
This policy aims to mitigate the risk of defamation and provide protective measures to support the safety and wellbeing of Victorian Public Sector staff utilising social media in their work.
Victorian Government departments, agencies and entities must follow this policy and use the Social Media Operational Guidelines for best practice examples and supporting information on this policy.
Footnotes
1 See Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller; Nationwide News Pty Limited v Voller; Australian News Channel Pty Ltd v Voller [2021] HCA 27.
Updated