Defence backed claim that social media footage of public servants could invite bullying

Official’s controversial September request for Senate hearing footage to not be shared on social media has been heavily criticised

• Get our daily political email, free app or daily news podcast

The secretary of the defence department approved a senior official’s controversial idea to tell a Senate hearing that footage of public servants giving evidence should not be shared on social media because it could invite online bullying and raise national security concerns.

Emails obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information reveal deputy secretary Celia Perkins’ planned request to the parliamentary inquiry was flagged with the offices of deputy prime minister Richard Marles and assistant defence minister Peter Khalil, and received the backing of department secretary Meghan Quinn.