PUBLIC servants will be urged to dob in colleagues who post political criticism of the Abbott Government on social media even if it is done anonymously under new Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet guidelines.

The sweeping new rules will even cover public servants posting political comments anonymously including mummy bloggers on parenting websites, if a colleague knew their online identity.

The new policy clearly states it covers the use of social media in an official and unofficial capacity, whether for professional or personal use. If they are found to have breached the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct they could be sacked.

Colleagues will also be encouraged to dob in each other.

“If an employee becomes aware of another employee who is engaging in conduct that may breach this policy there is an expectation that the employee will report the conduct to the Department,’’ the policy states. Blogger and former public servant Greg Jericho, whose online identity as Grog’s Gamut was unmasked by The Australian four years ago, was stunned by the policy.

At the time, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet ruled his own posts did not breach public service guidelines.

“This is so intrusive. It is further evidence that the public service is scared of social media rather than seeing it as an opportunity to broaden the understanding of public policy, including correcting misinformation,’’ he said.

But newly appointed Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, dubbed the “Freedom Commissioner’’ has backed the reforms arguing public servants knew what they were signed up for.

“There is nothing inconsistent with free speech and having codes of conduct or policies as a condition of employment that require professional, respectful­ behaviour in their role and the public domain,’’ Mr Wilson said.

“It is not unreasonable for such policies to apply to conduct directly related to the primary­ and specific area of work of a public servant, but are unjustified when they are very broad and limit democratic participation.

“Anonymity should not justify exemptions because it can be connected back to the individual and their work

“Ultimately public servants voluntarily and knowingly choose to accept these limits on their conduct when they accept­ employment”.

The crackdown on posts covers Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Flickr, blogs, forums and wikepedias and can result in sackings.

Originally published as Dob in a critic of govt