‘More North Korea than North Sydney’: Fury over new social media rules

An elected representative has called a Sydney council’s new social media policy an “extraordinary” and targeted political ploy weeks from polling day.

North Sydney councillors were split 5-5 last month over whether to proceed with the policy before mayor Zoe Baker used her casting vote to push the draft document through to public exhibition.

North Sydney Council’s draft social media policy has been likened to something out of North Korea.Credit: Aresna Villanueva

The policy compels elected officials to use their full name and the word “councillor” on their social media accounts, along with a “clearly identifiable” profile photo. Any councillor who administers a social media platform must “actively ensure” no content is posted that breaches the council’s code of conduct or media liaison policy, and will be held responsible for any such content.

Among other things, it also compels council officials not to post or share commentary containing “misleading or deceptive” content about the council, staff or members of the public.

Councillor and former mayor Jilly Gibson, a vocal critic of Baker and an administrator of popular community Facebook page “Kirribilli connections” (not to be confused with rival page “Kirribilli Connections”), claimed the policy was “clearly directed at me”.

“It’s personal, it’s political and it’s simply absurd,” she said. “I hate to be cynical, but the timing is curious.”

North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said the council needed a social media policy that reflected best practice.Credit: Janie Barrett

Gibson opposed the policy at the most recent council meeting, portraying it as a serious attack on freedom of speech and something residents generally disliked.

“It’s quite extraordinary,” she said. “They don’t have councils in North Korea, but it’s more North Korean than North Sydney Council. It’s very restrictive, it’s very onerous.”

North Sydney Council says the proposed policy is based upon the model social media policy from the Office of Local Government. The council was “committed to engaging with its community on official social media profiles in a way that optimises engagement but manages risk”.

Councillor MaryAnn Beregi supported exhibition of the draft document, saying she had no issue with a social media policy and any changes could be debated later.

North Sydney councillor Jilly Gibson believes the new social media policy is “clearly directed at me” because of a Facebook page she administers.Credit: Edwina Pickles

“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,” she said.

“I have no interest in administering a Facebook page or whatever, but if you do, it doesn’t stop you from doing it, it just requires you to adhere to the Code of Conduct which we have to do in the course of our roles anyway.”

Those comments preceded a fiery exchange between Gibson and Baker, who told Gibson to turn off her microphone and “close your mouth”, before withdrawing and apologising. “Don’t speak to me like that,” Gibson replied. “Do not tell me to shut my mouth.”

Baker told the Herald the new policy was “absolutely not” directed at Gibson, and it would be on exhibition until September 8, meaning the new council would decide whether to adopt it or not.

Gibson said she would not abide by the policy if re-elected. “I will not have North Sydney Council dictate to me what I can do in my private life,” she said.

At the same July 22 council meeting, councillors resolved to start legal proceedings against Brewster Hjorth Architects over design services for the controversial North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment, which has suffered from multiple budget blowouts and delays.

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