The Liberal Party of Australia is scrambling to contain the fallout from a late-night cyber incident that saw explicit, pornographic content briefly published on its official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Around midnight on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, a series of posts featuring scantily clad women appeared on the party’s social media pages. The material remained visible for approximately 10 minutes before it was removed. A spokesperson for the Liberal Party confirmed that the breach originated from the compromised account of a third-party contractor, rather than internal party personnel.

According to a statement issued by the party, “Overnight, the social media account of a contractor used by the Party was hacked, leading to the posting of unauthorised material on the Liberal Party’s Meta accounts at around midnight. All material was removed within 10 minutes of it being posted, and the matter was urgently raised with the Australian Cyber Security Centre and with Meta overnight. We apologise for any offence caused.”

The timing of the incident added to its political weight, as it coincided with a major policy speech by Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley at the National Press Club, where she urged her party to do more to support and represent women in politics. Ley’s remarks focused on gender diversity and the need for cultural renewal, stressing that the Liberal Party must be a “modern, inclusive force” to remain relevant.

However, the juxtaposition of that speech with the incident led to renewed criticism of the party’s handling of gender issues and public image, particularly in light of previous controversies involving women within the party.

Cybersecurity professionals have pointed out that political organisations are increasingly vulnerable to such attacks, especially during sensitive electoral periods. The Liberal Party has since reported the incident to both the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Meta, and an investigation is now underway to assess the full extent of the breach and prevent future intrusions.

The incident was first reported by the Australian Financial Review in their Rear Window column, which noted that the breach triggered internal panic and forced an urgent response from senior party officials.

As political parties rely more heavily on digital communications, this episode underscores the importance of robust security protocols and the potential reputational damage from even brief online incidents. The Liberal Party will now face the challenge of reassuring the public—and its base—that it remains a credible, secure, and professional organisation in the lead-up to the next election.