Social Media

Definitions

Content Any posts to social media or an e-list, including comments, images, audio clips or video clips.

Online asset Any presence on a social media platform branded with the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) name, logo, or other branding element used in such a way as to indicate, whether accurately or not, representation of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1).

State Level online asset Any online asset representing the party at a State level.

Group online asset Any online asset representing a constituent group.

Candidate online asset Any online asset representing an endorsed local, state or federal Candidate.

Private group Any social media group or e-list that is exclusively administered by an accredited constituent group of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) with the clear goal of assisting with party organising or facilitating discussion between Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) members and/or volunteers.

Guidelines for Online Assets

1. Content posted by Administrators to online assets will not conflict with:

   1. the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria policies, Constitution or Bylaws; or

   2. the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 policies, Constitution or Bylaws.

and will not include internal party matters.

1. Administrative rights and responsibilities of State Level online assets must be held by the most senior staff memberState Director.

2. Administrative rights and responsibilities of a Group online asset must be held by:

   1. the most senior staff memberState Director; and

   2. an officer bearer who is authorised to utilise social media by the relevant Group.

3. Administrative rights and responsibilities of a Candidate online asset must be held by:

   1. the most senior staff memberState Director; and

   2. an office bearer who is authorised to utilise social media by the relevant Campaign Committee; and

   3. the relevant Candidate.

8A. Online assets may only be created in accordance with this bylaw.

1. Group online assets must only be created by a ratified Office Bearer of the relevant Group.

2. Candidate online assets must only be created by:

   1. an office bearer of the relevant Campaign Committee; or

   2. the relevant Candidate.

10A. Candidate online assets will be removed a reasonable time after the election unless:

(a) the candidate is elected; or

(b) the Victorian Campaign Committee agrees otherwise, in which case the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) name, logo, or other branding element used in such a way as to indicate, whether accurately or not, representation of the Parry shall be removed.

Guidelines for Private Groups

1. Any constituent group may create its own private group through AGVAustralian Greens Victoria decision-making procedures.

2. The constituent group is responsible for informing the Membership Engagement Committee of the formation, purpose and termination of the private group, and the Membership Engagement Committee is responsible for maintaining a list/register of the private groups and making it available on the internal AGVAustralian Greens Victoria website.

3. Private groups must have clear guidelines on who is eligible to be a member of the group. Group administrators will provide access to those who meet the criteria and remove those who cease to meet the criteria.

4. Group administrators must include:

   1. at least one office bearer or delegate for the appropriate constituent group; and

   2. if the constituent group or State Council agrees, the most senior staff member.

5. The constituent group responsible for the private group may appoint other AGVAustralian Greens Victoria members as group administrators, so long as the persons appointed have read and understood the Code of Conduct.

6. The Code of Conduct applies to all conversations within private groups.

7. Group administrators may:

   1. delete posts that arguably could breach the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution and Bylaws; and

   2. permanently remove or temporarily suspend from the group anyone whose actions appear to seriously or repeatedly breach the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution or Bylaws or who disseminates materials from inside the group to outside the group, in consultation with the office bearers of the relevant constituent group.

8. A clear statement of rules for participation in the private group, including reference to the Code of Conduct, must be made prominently known to members. The rules will include notification that group members who seriously or repeatedly breach the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria policies, Constitution or Bylaws can be permanently removed or temporarily suspended from membership of the group.

9. Where the criteria for membership of the private group includes non-members of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria, discussion of internal party matters is not permitted in that group. AGVAustralian Greens Victoria staff are considered to be members of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria for this purpose.

Empowered and Authorised

1. An Administrator may use this access to:

   1. immediately hide or remove any content:

      1. that is arguably a clear and serious breach of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1)’s Constitution or Bylaws; or

      2. if directed to do so by the State Executive or Victorian Campaign Committee;

   2. immediately suspend or remove a person’s administrative access if:

      1. content from that person is arguably a clear and serious breach of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1)’s constitution or bylaws; and

      2. directed to do so by the State Executive or Victorian Campaign Committee;

   3. permanently close down a Group or Candidate online asset or private group if directed to do so by State Council.

2. The most senior staff memberState Director may not use this access to post content to Group or Candidate’s online assets, unless authorised by the Group or Candidate.

3. The most senior staff memberState Director may appoint or instruct other employees to assist in the implementation of these responsibilities, but retains overall responsibility for any actions carried out under this section.

Concerns or Complaints

1. Concerns or complaints about content posted to online assets or private groups may be directed to:

   1. an Administrator, in the first instance; or

   2. the Misconduct Panel, if misconduct occurs.

Modification History

Action	Body	Date
Endorsed	State Council	2019-02-23
Amended	State Executive	2019-04-18
Amended	State Council	2019-05-02
Amended	State Executive	2019-06-20
Amended	State Executive	2019-09-19