Our say | Freedom of speech is not freedom to offend

Given the digital world we live in, many people working in both the public sector and private enterprise are already bound by their employer's social media policy, and that's entirely appropriate.

Indeed, Bathurst Regional Council staff must abide by such a policy and so it might come as a surprise to many to learn that there is not already such a policy in place for councillors.

That's all set to change as council considers introducing such a policy but it's not going to happen without some debate.

Councillor Alex Christian, in particular, is expressing real concern that such a policy might unfairly and unduly limit what he says on social media and, as the councillor who makes the most use of platforms such as Facebook, his interest in the final wording of the policy is understandable.

He uses social media (very effectively) to communicate with constituents and to put forward, in his own words, where he stands on a range of local issues and has every right to object to any moves to curtail that activity.

Cr Christian is especially aggrieved that the word "offend" is included in the draft policy, arguing that if someone takes offence from something he posts then that is their problem, not his.

And he may be right, but only to a point.

In a civilised society, there must always be some constraints on freedom of speech. That is not an attack on democracy.

People do not have the right to engage in hate speech, nor to incite violence. Freedom of speech does not give us the right to abuse others nor discriminate against them on the basis of race, religion, sexuality, etc.

These are all areas of possible offence that should rightly be censured by a social media policy for councillors.

Councillors should also be barred from publicly abusing or ridiculing their colleagues, but disagreeing with a fellow councillor's position on a question of policy should always be fair game.

The difference, as mentioned a number of times during the debate in council last week, is in "playing the ball and not the man/woman". Criticising policy and decisions is fine, criticising your colleagues - or painting a clown face on their photo - is not.

There will always be grey areas, but displaying common decency will prevent most of the problems before they happen.