‘Error’: Government not in ‘caretaker mode’ after deleted X post from Prime Minister’s cabinet

A quickly-deleted post made by the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s official account has raised eyebrows as election anticipation nears fever pitch.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s official X account posted and quickly deleted a post saying the government was in a caretaker period, a Senate estimate committee has heard.

Senator Michaelia Cash raised questions about the social media gaffe - posted to X (formerly Twitter) - before the committee on Thursday.

“Nine minutes ago, the department published a tweet that the government is now operating in accordance with caretaker conventions and then deleted the tweet,” she said.

“The tweet said, ‘The government is now operating with caretaker outcomes conventions pending the outcome of the 2025 election. Comments have been disabled for this period,’ with a link to the PM&C website.’”

The X post was online for approximately four minutes before it was taken down. Picture: X

Underneath was a document that said guidance on caretaker conventions, she added.

The caretaker period begins upon the dissolution of the parliament in the lead-up to an election and prevents the government from making any significant new decisions, appointments or contractual commitments.

Senator Penny Wong joked it was “going to be interesting who ‘fesses up to this”, before adding: “Does that mean I can leave?”

PM&C department first assistant secretary Andrew Walters, who was present in the committee hearing, confirmed the government was not in caretaker mode.

“My colleagues are trying to work out why this occurred, obviously this is an error. It up for approximately four minutes,” he said.

Mr Walters said he found out about the post “nine minutes” earlier.

Senator Wong however responded that she was not aware of the post until it was brought up, and that the document included was “obviously” the caretaker conventions.

Later, fellow PM&C first Assistant Secretary Arthur Spyrou said that while he didn’t know when the tweet was prepared, it was standard practice and attributed the mistake to a “flip of the hand”.

“We would prepare tweets of this nature quite a while back to be ready for any eventuality,” he said.

“The departmental official was obviously going into the tweet and perhaps amended the tweet, and instead of saving it, they pressed publish.

“It’s literally a human error, flip of the hand.”

SIT-STAND DESK DEBACLE

Earlier that day, the committee was told a $35,000 prototype sit-and-stand desk paid for with taxpayer funds is languishing in storage at Parliament House.

Parliamentary services acting secretary Jaala Hinchcliffe confirmed that despite the eye-watering cost, the single desk remained within on-site storage.

Ms Hinchcliffe would not confirm if she believed the “money was well spent” but described the desk as having been used as a “training opportunity for staff”.

“I’m also conscious that on something like this, where we are looking to build something for members and senators, is how we engage with members and senators about what it is that they need and what it is that would be able to assist you to do your job” Ms Hinchclifee told senator Jane Hume during senate estimates on Thursday.

Senator Jane Hume said her ‘head fell off’ over the cost of a parliamentary desk prototype. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I agree with you that the numbers for the cost of this (the prototype sit-and-stand desk) are large, and we will need to look through our capital works program about issues like this to think about if that cost is something that is sustainable and does it provide something that members and senators want and need.”

Senator Hume said her “head fell off” when she realised the staggering fee was not for multiple desks but a single prototype for parliament.

She went on to tell the committee that if even half of parliamentarians received the prototype, it would come at a cost to the taxpayer of a whopping $4m.

Ms Hitchcliffe said the desk had been used as a “training opportunity” for staff in cabinetry making but would have to provide on notice what the benefiting skills were.

While telling senate estimates that members and senators had requested the desk, she said she would also have to take on notice whether sit-stand desks were requested.

“Do you think that they expect sit-stand desks to be custom-made for them, or are they happy to have something that is already in storage?” Senator Hume asked.

The desk is in on-site storage at Parliament House. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Because, let’s face it, our staff already have sit-stand, desks – they exist – and if you say, I want one of those, do you think that we need to be able to create something brand new at a cost of $35,000 per desk?”

In response, Ms Hinchcliffe said the department was “asking ourselves” the same question but noted that the desk would replace furniture “that was specifically designed for senators and members to ensure the dignity of (parliament) house”.

Senator Hume raised concerns during estimates about what she described as “a pervasive culture of waste”, which was an “ongoing problem”.

She asked for a full inventory of furniture languishing in storage, its market value and whether any of it could be sold.

The committee also heard evidence about a separate “very special desk for the former deputy secretary” that cost the taxpayer a further $20,000.

Ms Hitchcliffe said the desk was worked on by staff in their “spare time” within the “normal bounds of their duties”.

The desk was being stored off site, with Ms Hitchcliffe noting she could not confirm who ordered the desk but said it was “verbally confirmed by the then-secretary”.

Originally published as ‘Error’: Government not in ‘caretaker mode’ after deleted X post from Prime Minister’s cabinet