Tabuya cautions 'off the record' media talks

Minister for Information and Climate Change Lyn­da Tabuya says Members of Parliament and public officials will need to exercise greater cau­tion when speaking to the media following a recent court decision allowing off-the-record material used as evidence.

Ms Tabuya said she could not comment on the specifics of the ongoing case, saying she respected the court's decision to admit the material as she acknowledged the development might change how of­ficials approach media interviews moving forward.

"I believe we will all be on our guard now in terms of interviews that are taken off-the-record, not­ing that such agreements tradi­tionally rely on trust between journalists and interviewees," she said.

Ms Tabuya said that while off­-the-record discussions are a com­mon "code" in media interactions, public officials must now be more mindful about what they disclose.

She said officials should clearly communicate when information is intended for public record and work closely with media liaison officers during interviews.

The minister said the issue was not about withholding informa­tion, but ensuring that communi­cation with the public remained truthful, clear, and effective.
She also highlighted the importance of maintaining trust between the media and public of­ficials, describing it as a "vital relationship" necessary to uphold democracy.

The remarks come amid height­ened scrutiny over media practic­es and legal boundaries surround­ing confidential communications, raising broader questions about how off-the-record agreements will be handled in the future.