A MOVE to curtail how Mildura councillors interact with the media failed to pass the first hurdle when it was presented at Wednesday night’s monthly council meeting.
A plan to ban councillors speaking out against official council decisions or organisational policies in expressing personal opinions was removed from the proposed media relations policy recommended for adoption.
But the policy, which was revised this week following questions put to the council by Sunraysia Daily, failed to attract any support from the city’s nine elected representatives.
When Mayor Jason Modica called for a mover for a motion to adopt the policy for the following three years, the council chambers fell silent.
Cr Stefano de Pieri then moved to have the matter lie on the table, which was seconded by Cr Cyndi Power and avoided councillors determining the matter this week.
The policy had caused some concern among councillors before Wednesday’s meeting that it would limit their ability to speak freely about council issues.
If passed this week, the restrictions on councillors would have included:
– Making it clear councillors were expressing a personal opinion and not purporting to represent a position of the council.
– Supporting the council’s official release of information and not releasing information independently.
– Not disclosing information classified as confidential to the media, including confidential information provided during briefings, workshops or meetings.
– Refraining from using the media or social media to make negative personal reflections on each other, council staff or the council.
Long-serving former Mildura mayor Glenn Milne said on Thursday he hoped the policy would see some changes before it returned to council next month.
“If it was acceptable in its current form it wouldn’t have been laid on the table,” Cr Milne said.
“It’s a clear sign that people have had a good read of it and are not happy with it.
“I’ll be expecting some changes to be made during the month to bring it back in a more acceptable form or allow councillors to have some more input.
“There’s a whole lot of bits of it, I think, that need to change.”
Cr Milne said it was not unusual for council or other workplaces to have policies and procedures in place.
“You can understand that businesses need some sort of policy and some sort of general guidelines and that’s a good thing, but they have to be workable.
“We have got to have a policy that is modern, that understands the press and how it works — that’s what is required and it does need more discussion.
“You have to understand how you can work with the media and you have got to be able to give a general answer that covers what’s required, but doesn’t put anybody in a position that you shouldn’t be putting them in.”
However, Cr Milne said he believed the council could find a way through the stalled media policy.
“We can’t just build a wall and say, ‘Well, bad luck, we’re not going to tell you the information unless it suits us’,” he said.
“That doesn’t work because then you get the ‘no comment’ comment and immediately the public see that as something being covered up.
“But you also don’t want half-baked information coming out that lacks substance or is out-and-out wrong.
“There is a way through that meets that need for a very quick and fair response, but also covers council in not letting information out that shouldn’t come out, such as confidential information.
“You have to be able to understand your limitations, understand how to use the media or how not to be used by the media — whichever way you like to couch it.
“You need a policy that is going to work, but councillors need to do their work, too, and so do the staff.”
