Social media training for Deputy Chief Health Officer over Captain Cook tweet
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer must undergo social media training but will not be sacked for her controversial tweet comparing coronavirus to the arrival of Captain James Cook.
VIC News
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Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer has undergone social media training after she compared COVID-19 to the arrival of Captain James Cook but will not be sacked from her position.
The state’s public sector watchdog probe has cleared the DCHO Annaliese van Diemen after her controversial social media post last week.
However, it has been revealed Dr van Diemen was counselled on how to use social media in the future, despite being backed by the department secretary Kym Peake.
A letter from Victorian Public Sector Commission Acting Commissioner Julia Griffith said the Department Secretary confirmed the tweet was made from a work phone but on the DCHO’s rostered day off last Wednesday.
The correspondence revealed Ms Peake was “now satisfied that Dr van Diemen is now aware of the potential risks of private social media commentary”.
The VPSC was probing whether Dr van Diemen’s tweet breached the Public Administration Act that requires public sector employees to remain “impartial, apolitical and behave in a way that sustains public trust” but cleared her of any major wrong doing.
Opposition spokesman James Newbury slammed the decision saying “the outcome does not pass the pub test”.
“You can ask any person on the street and they will say on a work phone this is just not right”.
The full scale investigation was launched last week after Dr van Diemen tweeted; “Sudden arrival of an invader from another land, decimating populations, creating terror. Forces the population to make enormous sacrifices & completely change how they live in order to survive. COVID-19 or Cook 1770?”
Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jenny Mikakos have both backed Dr van Diemen holding her position after complaints about her online remarks.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said he was unaware of the counselling being provided this morning, but praised the work of Dr van Diemen.
“All I can say is that she is doing exceptionally well,” he said.
“This is a distraction from the vital work that our Chief Health Officer and his deputy are performing.
“I certainly don’t think it is a matter of any great comment or scrutiny.”
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