Palaszczuk lays down law on ministerial emails

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk issued new guidelines yesterday, banning ministers from using private email accounts for ministerial business.

The ban applies equally to apps such as Facebook Messenger, SnapChat, Wickr and WhatsApp.

“Cabinet endorsed my decision today. These rules take effect from tomorrow and the Ministerial Handbook has been updated accordingly,” the Premier said.

“Following findings of the Crime and Corruption Commission on the risks associated with private email use, I committed to review our record keeping and information management policies,” the Premier said.

“I have already made clear my expectation that all ministers, assistant ministers and ministerial staff use only government email accounts for official business.

“The new Queensland Ministerial Handbook makes it crystal clear.”

Ministerial records include any document that provides evidence of ministerial portfolio responsibility.

Websites and social media posts by their nature are public documents and are therefore included.

The State Archivist issued a new ministerial records policy in December setting out requirements on ministers, assistant ministers and their staff in relation to record keeping.

Image courtesy Queensland Government.

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