25 July 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
A North Sydney Council plan to regulate the social media policy of its staff may also have an impact on the ability of councillors to post on their Facebook groups.
Ostensibly, its proposed social media policy is designed to manage risks online and optimise the accessibility and shareability of information on social media.
But the proposal includes a requirement for Councillors who manage social media pages to actively ensure the content shared on the group meets strict code of conduct and media policy guidelines.
It was presented to Council during Monday night’s meeting.
Councillor Jilly Gibson requested the motion be postponed until the new council is elected.
“It’s quite extraordinary, I have to say, for this Council who prides itself on freedom of speech to try and absolutely control Councillors on social media,” she told the meeting.
“This is something for a new Council. If you read through the timelines, it’s been rushed.”
Cr Gibson acknowledged she is known for administering Kirribilli Connections, a social media group on Facebook for residents.
“I’ve been administering [it] for seven, eight years now and all of a sudden this comes up,” she said.”
“They don’t have councils in North Korea – but this is more North Korea than North Sydney.”
“It’s very restrictive, it’s very onerous and I want to know how Council would actually administer this.”
She argued the proposal was an attack on freedom of speech and should rather be developed by the new council and not before an election.
An amendment to the public exhibition time frame was made, extending it.
Cr MaryAnn Beregi added: “It is in the absolute spirit of transparency and everything to put these things out, unedited. This is the report from a council office.”
“It goes out on exhibition to our community for their comments, and then we can come back to you about issues that you might like to raise there.”
“I see no problems with having a social media policy,” she continued.
“I think in this day and age where we have seen defamation, actions against people in social media, which has been used for political purposes, I think it is the right way to move.”
Cr Beregi said the policy would not stop Councillors from administering a Facebook group, rather adhere to the conduct provided.
Councillor William Bourke shared similar concerns. “There are far reaching implications such as your social media becoming the property of the council.”
He suggested a Q&A session and invited further briefing.
Voting was split and Mayor Baker used her casting vote to pass the motion and put it on public exhibition for 45 days.