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Engagement Snapshot

Here is an overview of all the activities involving community for the purpose of participation.

Overview

Dubbo Regional Council’s existing Media Protocols Policy was adopted 2017 and is due to be reviewed.

In October 2021 a revised version was developed, a draft policy was put up to Council and subsequently the draft version was placed on public exhibition. However, due to a number of competing priorities including COVID and organisational and political change, the draft policy was not presented back to Council for endorsement.

In consideration of outcomes from the early 2022 Communications Service Review and under the new structure of Strategic Partnerships and Investment, the Communications Services Team have reviewed the policy in line with updated Code of Conduct Policies, updated Council Structure and formation of Committees.

The 2023 Media Policy has been created in line with the draft Local Government Media Policy and following on from the 2021 Draft Media Policy. If adopted the Draft Media Policy 2023 will replace the former Media Protocols Policy (2017).

Key changes between the former Draft Media Policy 2021 and the proposed Draft Media Policy 2023


Former draft Media PolicyDraft Media Policy 2023

Without delegation from the Mayor, or in their absence, the Deputy Mayor, no other Councillor was able to engage with the media on behalf of Dubbo Regional Council.

A Committee Chairperson may be the spokesperson for the Committee they chair regarding the Committee recommendation, before a resolution has been made by Council.

Representatives seeking interviews or comment from individual councillors should be directed to the Community Support Officer and DRC’s corporate website where all contact information for Councillors is publically available.

Media representatives seeking interviews or comment from individual Councillors including the mayor on individual views on Council matters or any other matters should utilise Councillors publicly available contact details on Council’s website.

Media representatives seeking interviews or comment from Council as an entity/organisation should contact the Communications Services Team in the first instance.

Media representatives seeking interviews or comment from the Mayor or CEO as a spokesperson on behalf of Council can contact the Communications Services Team in the first instance, or the mayor directly.
The Mayor and CEO must approve all Media Releases.All media statements must be approved by CEO, or CEO’s delegated representative, prior to issue. The Mayor or other Councillor is to approve releases they are quoted in, as per the approval process.
Role of Communications Services: It is not the responsibility of the Communications Services team to handle media requests on behalf of Councillors.Role of Communications Services: It is the role of the Communications Services Team to handle media requests on behalf of Council as an entity/organisation. The Communications Services Team do not manage personal, political or opinion requests on behalf of the Mayor or Councillors, or requests not directly related to the matters of Council.