Friday is the final day for submissions on council's draft social media policy, which, if adopted, will set out standards for councillors' behaviour on online.

Council already has a social media policy for its staff, but this does not extend to elected representatives.

The Office of Local Government may soon require local councils to have a policy, so Bathurst council is acting early in anticipation.

Cr Alex Christian has been the biggest objector to the draft policy, taking particular issue with the inclusion of the word 'offensive' in the document and expressing concern that councillors will be censored.

READ ALSO: Social media policy won't change online behaviour, councillor Alex Christian says

Cr Jacqui Rudge, however, feels the policy is sorely needed, regardless of if it becomes a requirement or not.

"I think it's important because councillors need to lead by example and we don't want to get it started where people are attacking each other in the social media space regarding differences of opinion," she said.

"Of course, we can absolutely have a difference of opinion, but we all need to be respectful of each other and we just need to stay on topic ... and not personally denigrate the person you may disagree with on policy."

READ ALSO: Our say | Freedom of speech is not freedom to offend

She said most workplaces have policies regarding social media use and council should be no different.

"What workplace do you work in where your colleagues can post things about you in the social media sphere and be allowed to do it and try to defend it?"

In her eyes, bullying is already occurring and Cr Rudge thinks, without a social media policy, it will only get worse as the next local government election nears.

"This is where social media is going to get grubby and it's going to get nasty and it shouldn't be," she said.

"The people of Bathurst need to make their own choices without muddying the waters on social media about other councillors."