This platform will be monitored Monday to Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Do not provide personal information on this social media platform
House rules
Our principles
Openness
Our social media platforms are places where anyone can share and discuss issues that are relevant to our Council and the community we represent and serve. Relevance
We will ensure our social media platforms are kept up to date with informative content about our Council and community. Accuracy
The content we upload onto our social media platforms and any other social media platform will be a source of truth for our Council and community and we will prioritise the need to correct inaccuracies when they occur. We will uphold and promote the behavioural standards contained in the Council's Social Media Policy and Council’s Code of Conduct when using our social media platforms and any other social media platforms. Moderation of this page
We invite you to share your opinions and discuss information that we publish on this page. We moderate all comments on this page including photos and videos that contain anything that
• is defamatory, offensive, humiliating, threatening or intimidating to council officials or members of the public,
• contains profane language or is sexual in nature
• constitutes harassment and/or bullying within the meaning of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW, or is unlawfully discriminatory
• contains content about the Council, council officials or members of the public that is misleading or deceptive
• breaches the privacy of council officials or members of the public
• contains allegations of suspected breaches of the Council’s code of conduct or information about the consideration of a matter under the Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW,
• violates an order made by a court
• breaches copyright
• advertises, endorses or solicits commercial products or business,
• constitutes spam
• would be in breach of the rules of the social media platform. https://www.facebook.com/terms.php
• Comments that contravene these requirements will be deleted. Repeated incidents may result in a user being banned or blocked from our page. Blocking or banning
• If a person uploads content that is removed or ‘hidden’ under clause 5.6 of the Council's Social Media Policy on two occasions, that person may be blocked or banned from the social media platform.
• A person may only be blocked or banned from a Council social media platform with the approval of the General Manager or Social Media Coordinator
• Prior to blocking or banning a person from a social media platform, the person must, where practicable, be advised of the intention to block or ban them from the platform and be given a chance to respond. Any submission made by the person must be considered prior to a determination being made to block or ban them.
• The duration of the block or ban is to be determined by the General Manager.
• Where a determination is made to block or ban a person from a social media platform the person must, where practicable, be notified in writing of the decision and the reasons for it. The written notice must also advise the person which social media platforms they are blocked or banned from and the duration of the block or ban and inform them of their rights of review.
• Despite clauses 5.11 to 5.15, where a person uploads content of a kind referred to under clause 5.5, and the moderator is reasonably satisfied that the person’s further engagement on the social media platform poses a risk to health and safety or another substantive risk (such as the uploading of defamatory content), an interim block or ban from the platform be imposed on the person immediately for a period no longer than one year.
• A person who is blocked or banned from the platform, where practicable, be given a chance to respond to the interim block or ban being imposed. Any submission made by the person must be considered when determining whether the interim block or ban is to be removed or retained.
• A person may request a review of a decision to block or ban them from a social media platform. The request must be made in writing to the General Manager PO Box 75A Armidale 2350 or emailed to [email protected] and state the grounds on which the request is being made.
• Where a review request is made the review is to be undertaken by the General Manager or a member of staff nominated by the General Manager who is suitably qualified and who was not involved in the decision to block or ban the person. Where the decision to block or ban the person was made by the General Manager, the review must be undertaken by another senior and suitably qualified member of staff who was not involved in the decision.
• Where a person that is the subject of a block or ban continues to engage on a social media platform(s) using an alternative social media account, profile, avatar, etc., a moderator may block or ban the person from the platform(s) immediately. Council's Social Media Policy can be viewed on the Armidale Regional Council website.
