State Government Department Announces Decision to End Partnership with Elon Musk’s ‘X’ Company

In a surprising move, the Victorian state government department has announced its decision to end its partnership with Elon Musk’s ‘X’ company, formerly known as Twitter. The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing took to the platform to express their breakup, stating that it was “long overdue.” The department plans to switch to other platforms to share their publicity with the community.

With 2,752 followers on X, the department’s posts have garnered multiple likes and retweets. In their final post on the platform, they wrote, “Hey @X…It’s not you…but it Is you. Our break up is overdue,” accompanied by two broken heart emojis. The post received 37 likes, 14 retweets, and 11 comments, showcasing a mix of positive and negative reactions.

The department clarified that they will still be active on other platforms, where they will continue to share stories about Victorian communities. They mentioned platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube as their new focus areas. A spokesman for the department explained that X no longer aligns with their goals of creating a more inclusive Victoria and reaching their audiences safely and productively.

Interestingly, several other Victorian state departments are also considering a similar move away from X. However, notable figures like Victoria’s Labor Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas continue to maintain their presence on the platform. Additionally, government agencies such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet remain active on X as well.

The decision to discontinue the partnership with X comes amidst billionaire Elon Musk’s criticism of Australian fact-checkers. Musk recently targeted the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s (RMIT) Fact Check for allegedly censoring debates about nuclear energy and renewables. He expressed his concerns about government “fact-checkers” being a step towards tyranny in a post on X.

The debate surrounding nuclear energy was sparked by Australian businessman Dick Smith, who claimed on a radio show that the country needed to embrace nuclear energy as no country has been able to rely entirely on renewables. The ABC RMIT Fact Check, which is jointly funded by the government, fact-checked Smith’s claim. However, they later published an apology to Smith and amended their fact-check on their website.

As the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing makes its exit from X, it remains to be seen whether other government departments will follow suit. With a focus on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, the department aims to continue engaging with the community and sharing stories about the Victorian communities they work with. Only time will tell if this move proves to be successful in achieving their goals of inclusivity and productivity in reaching their audiences.