Brisbane Council Livestream: Blurred Councillors Spark Debate and Investigation

During a recent Brisbane City Council meeting livestream on March 3, several councillors, including Emily Kim and Nicole Johnston, appeared blurred. This incident led to discussions regarding technical issues, councillor visibility, and social media. Cr Kim, a first-time Labor councillor, reported receiving messages from residents who could not see her clearly.

"Residents could not see Cr Emily Kim clearly during the livestream, prompting concerns about visibility and fair representation."

Initial Concerns Emerge

Upon inquiry, Council Chair Sandy Landers stated that the issue might be due to camera adjustments, as the system sometimes needs to re-focus when councillors stand. Independent Councillor Nicole Johnston also voiced concerns about her image being blurred.

Automated Tracking Blamed, Allegations Dismissed

LNP Councillor Andrew Wines attributed the blurring to the automated tracking features of new cameras installed in early February. He dismissed allegations of deliberate manipulation, suggesting the system might struggle to capture specific speakers at times. Cr Wines also commented on Cr Kim's social media activity, which he later withdrew.

Cr Kim clarified that she primarily uses Instagram for council meeting updates, not TikTok, and described the debate as unnecessary. She emphasized the importance of a fair and accurate recording for residents.

Official Report Confirms Technical Anomalies

An investigation by the council's Chief Information Officer, Stephen Loquet, found "a number of routine audiovisual system anomalies" during the meeting. His report, tabled the following week, noted instances where the automated camera tracking system required manual override or recalibration to restore focus. Cr Kim, Cr Johnston, and LNP Cr Adam Allan were specifically logged as being out of focus at various points.

The report concluded that these technical issues did not warrant an adjournment, as the audio recording continued to function, meeting statutory obligations.

It further stated that the issues were consistent with automated systems in a live environment and did not indicate deliberate manipulation.

Calls for Fairness and Further Action

Political analyst John Mickel highlighted the need for governments to ensure technology use is fair to everyone, especially in multi-party systems like the Brisbane City Council, advocating for clear rules for televising proceedings.

Councillor Kim has referred the matter to the state's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).