Editor's Blog

DIBP officer sacked for tweeting opinions on immigration policy.

Victorians may have recently noticed Ambulances carrying the slogan, “Highest trained, lowest paid” prominently scribbled across their vehicles as they whizzed past with their sirens ablaze. It’s an apparent display of freedom of expression under industrial action which no one has fussed about.

But for a DIBP officer tweeting anonymously in her own time to express personal opinions on immigration policy: it led to a sacking. Apparently sacked for a breach of the employment contract and the Australian Public Service’s Code of Conduct.

This is the plight of Ms Michaela Banerji, the DIBP officer in the middle of the saga. Her plight and fight has spawned a public debate on the limits of freedom of expression in Australia.

Of course, first, there was a special investigation by DIBP to uncover her identity as she tweeted anonymously under the name @lalegale. Then came the termination of her employment and her subsequent court action.

All this has caused the once anonymous tweeter with just 700 followers to now have a nation of followers after numerous write-ups and interviews in the media, since the sacking.

Did DIBP anticipate this?

Perhaps the acrimony stems from DIBP’s foray into the world of social media itself. DIBP recently turned to blogging and tweeting to convey its messages directly to the public. A great public relations tool no doubt and a clear attempt to bypass a frequently critical media to get DIBPs messages unscathed and instantly across to the public directly. But social media users can be critical too. Especially those close to the issue. Ms Banerji was one such individual who took aim at DIBPs tweets with cynical rebuttals. But unfortunately, was shot down.