Media Release – Silencing Councillors From Virginia Waters
Sunday 10 May 2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18ZXq4P4gB/

Lismore City Councillor Virginia Waters is objecting to the Media Policy which Lismore Council is proposing to adopt at the meeting on Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 10am

“Brazen and illegal” were some of the words Lismore City Councillor Virginia Waters used to describe the proposed new Media Policy.
“When I read it I was horrified. They’re trying to codify the crushing of democracy and gag elected representatives. Worse still, they have not proposed to place the policy on public exhibition and buried these proposed restrictions deep within the business papers,” Cr Waters said.
Lismore Councillor Virginia Waters is objecting to the Media Policy which Lismore Council is proposing to adopt at its meeting on Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 10am.
‘This is a sad day for Lismore’ Ms Waters said.
Council is recommending adoption of a policy which claims that Councillors are not permitted to speak to the media without first consulting the General Manager and receiving guidance on what they should say. The new policy is part of a Media Policy the Council is proposing to adopt without placing it on public exhibition for public comment.
‘Trying to place barriers in front of Councillors before they speak to the media is undemocratic and unlawful’ said Clr Waters.
‘Councillors are elected to represent their constituents and voice their opinion publicly. Democracy thrives on debate and the High Court has found that free speech is implied in the Australian Constitution. The Court specifically found that free speech applies to all three tiers of government in Australia including local government.
‘The LG Act requires me to facilitate communication between residents and the governing body. It also requires me to be accountable to the electors and therefore I need to explain why I vote the way I do on important issues, and why I bring proposals to the Council for debate.
See attached extracts from “Free Speech in Local Government in NSW”:
Page 6
Page 10
‘The community can be assured that I will continue to speak with the media and the public whenever I believe it is appropriate. I do not have to seek the approval of the General Manager before I express my opinion. I do not have to wait until the GM is at work on Monday morning before replying to a media inquiry on Friday evening.
‘Lismore is a democracy and frankly it is a little embarrassing that an unlawful proposal such as this has made its way onto the Council agenda.’
‘If anyone would like to read the offending passage it is found on page 1316 of the 1379 pages of the Annexure to the business paper. No wonder no-one has called me to object, they probably can’t find it!
‘If you think this is a storm in a teacup, think again! Not long ago it was raised with me that Council would prefer if I stopped writing my column in the Nimbin Good Times. Apparently, I expressed my opinion too much.
‘I can assure my readers that I will not be stopped writing my column and I am confident that Council has no power to make me jump through hoops just to express my opinion.
‘I am pleased however that this heavy-handed attempt to place restrictions on Councillors and proscribe what we say has given me another excellent subject to write about. In a democracy I might not like what another person says, but as long as it is not hate speech, I will defend their right to say it.’
Media Contacts:
Virginia Waters
Adam Guise

Lismore Greens
Adam Guise – Greens for Lismore
Dr Amanda Cohn