In place since May 21, 2025, the revised policy is designed to tackle the negatives on the council’s social media handles.
Liverpool City Council CEO Mr Jason Breton said the new policy governs conduct by councillors, council staff and council’s social media platform users. “Our expectations are the same as most community group Facebook pages – treat everyone with respect, especially when debating different points of view,” said Breton.
While other councils may have different policies for separate categories, Liverpool has combined them into one document, with provisions largely based on the Office of the Local Government’s (OLG) model guidelines.
It is understood that the new policy takes a best practice approach as outlined in the council code of cconduct and clearly defines the roles, responsibilities and standard of conduct expected from Council officials when engaging with conventional and social media.
Other prominent Western Sydney ccouncils too are clear on their policies around social media use. A spokesperson from Blacktown City Council says they understand that social media is an essential and integral part of their communications strategy and an invaluable way for council and the councillors to engage with their residents, but even that comes with certain restrictions.
“While we invite healthy engagement from our community, we have no tolerance for abusive or offensive comments, or attempts to spread false information, and such content is addressed accordingly,” said the Blacktown City Council spokesperson.
“We support the model social media policy developed by the OLG, and have adapted and enhanced that model into a comprehensive social media policy which we have adopted,”
The City of Parramatta is also committed to upholding and promoting the principles of openness, relevance, accuracy and respect in all of ouncil’s social media engagement.
“Council’s social media policy states that, for all City of Parramatta social media accounts, defamatory, offensive, threatening or intimidating behaviour is not tolerated. Such behaviour will result in content being removed or hidden, and the offending person may be blocked or banned from the platform,” said a ccouncil spokesperson.
Cumberland City Council follows a social media policy mirroring their OLG’s laid out policy. “This policy incorporates best practices to utilise social media channels to inform our community about Council’s programs and activities and to foster community engagement in a positive and inclusive environment,” said a spokesperson.
At the Hills Shire Council, they have a social media moderation policy which they amended and now have in place since November 2024. According to that, the council reserves the right to take action or implement measures in response to breaches, including the potential withdrawal of an individual's posting privileges.
Automated filters hide posts that mention councillors and are then reviewed during normal business hours before they are made live.
Significantly, abuse and misinformation on social media platforms, has become a matter of grave concern in the recent times.
“Social media is an important communications and community engagement tool at the local government level,” said a Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) spokesperson.
“However, councils and councillors are not immune from the challenges associated with social media, which can pose a significant risk both in a legal sense, and in terms of a council’s ability to operate in a unified and coordinated way.
“For such reasons, we would urge all councils to adhere to the guidelines in the Model Social Media Policy that has been developed by the Office of Local Government in consultation with councils.”
Formed in 1973, WSROC is a membership organisation that represents five local councils in the Greater Western Sydney region, including Blacktown City Council, Blue Mountains City Council, Cumberland City Council, Hawkesbury City Council and Liverpool City Council.
