Scale of ABC social media disciplinary action revealed

“I increasingly have told people at ABC News that I certainly don’t want them on there for their job,” Morris said. “I’d have no problem if they choose to be there, personally, but we don’t need journalists to be on Twitter or to be on social media as part of their job.” In a separate interview, Morris said his time dealing with the issue was similar to “wrestling an octopus”.

In response to Senator Bragg and Senator Patrick’s questions on notice, the ABC said complaints about staff conduct on social media accounts was escalated to the division director in the first instance. If it is not resolved, it is then sent to the ABC’s people and culture team to be investigated.

If the social media guidelines are breached, the ABC said it will ask for the material to be deleted and request the employee take social media training and counselling.

The ABC said it also provides written warnings to and, in serious cases, termination of employment for breaches of the code.

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The ABC’s social media policy runs separately to the way it handles complaints about its content. ABC chair Ita Buttrose commissioned a review last October into its complaints handling system after a complaint about an investigative series on the 1979 Luna Park tragedy was dismissed. The complaint led to an external review, which found that although the piece of work was important, it had left viewers with the impression former NSW Premier Neville Wran was complicit in a cover-up of the fire.

Senator Bragg also attempted to launch an inquiry into the way the ABC handles complaints because he believed it could not run an independent process. The inquiry was thwarted by a Greens motion.