MP warns against any moves to stop Twitter use during question time
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Version 0 of 1. Politicians’ use of Twitter during parliamentary proceedings will come under the spotlight as a committee begins inquiring into the use of handheld devices in the House of Representatives. At least one federal MP, Labor’s Ed Husic, has warned against any move to shut down the communication channel, arguing that tweeting during question time could be useful in furthering debate and engaging with constituents. The standing committee on procedure – which includes four government MPs and three non-government MPs – has called for input from all lower house members. The committee chair, Don Randall, wrote to MPs on Monday to explain that the inquiry into electronic devices was under way. “The increasing use by members of electronic devices, particularly handheld devices, for communications from the chamber, has raised questions regarding their use. As you know this is an issue that has been considered by a number of parliaments,” Randall said. He said the commission was considering whether there was currently “sufficient regulation and guidance on the use of electronic devices in the chamber or whether there needs to be additional guidance or restriction”. Husic said MPs should be allowed to use Twitter during parliamentary proceedings. “It’s ironic that a Liberal party that’s supposed to be for free speech now wants to crack down on MPs expressing themselves on social media,” he said. Husic said a recent committee he was involved with used Twitter to seek public input into the issues and even drew on suggestions for questions to ask during sittings. “I think observations that can be made through the course of question time that can further the consideration of the debate at hand is valuable,” he said. Randall said the committee planned to conduct a roundtable meeting one evening in the budget sittings where MPs could “discuss the issues of interest to them concerning the inquiry”. |