SURF Coast Shire councillor Heather Wellington has taken serious exception to her own council\u2019s new policy for dealing with the media and social media, claiming one aspect of it is a \u201cgag policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Officers started discussions about the policy with councillors at a briefing in 2018, and Betteridge Legal Consulting was appointed to work with councillors and key officers to develop the Councillor Media Policy.<\/p>\n
It was formally adopted at last week\u2019s council meeting.<\/p>\n
The policy states councillors should not make comments that \u201cbring the council, another councillor, state or federal government or any other local government into disrepute\u201d and that councillors can express their own views \u201cprovided they do not seek to publicly undermine council decisions or other councillors\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cr Brian McKiterick said the policy \u201chas been a long time coming\u201d and was \u201cthe result of this council having some significant issues working together\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs social media gathered momentum, we didn\u2019t keep up as a council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis policy, basically, is about respect.\u201d Cr Wellington strongly disagreed with the intent of the Councillor Media Policy, arguing that it would stifle debate.<\/p>\n
She agreed that all commentary by councillors needed to be respectful but said that councillors needed to be able to disagree with the council\u2019s decisions.<\/p>\n
She said the policy was not just about social media but included councillors talking in the council chambers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom tonight, when this policy is approved, we won\u2019t be able to say things that are prohibited in this policy in front of the press \u2013 the policy explicitly says it includes the chamber because the press are present.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be able to express ourselves freely in the debate in the chamber, and it is unbelievable that we as councillors would agree to that right being curtailed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also says that if a decision is under consideration we shouldn\u2019t respond to requests for comment from the media. Good heavens. This a gag policy, councillors – I\u2019m sorry, but that is completely unacceptable to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The motion passed five votes to one, with Cr Wellington the only councillor to vote against it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SURF Coast Shire councillor Heather Wellington has taken serious exception to her own council\u2019s new policy for dealing with the media and social media, claiming one aspect of it is a \u201cgag policy\u201d. Officers started discussions about the policy with councillors at a briefing in 2018, and Betteridge Legal Consulting was appointed to work with […]<\/p>\n