The Express has been warned against contacting elected officials for comment by Armidale Regional Council mayor Simon Murray and council staff.

If the Draft Media Policy is passed, Cr Murray will be the only official spokesperson on council affairs.

Councillor Margaret O’Connor said the policy raises questions about democracy and transparency.

“It looks more like a policy for a private corporation or a political party which uses media relations to promote a certain image and push a carefully crafted message,” Cr O’Connor said.

“Local government is not a private enterprise, nor is is a political party which can expel members who don’t toe the party line.

“As elected people we are obliged to not remain silent at times when the Act requires us to speak.”

Councillors should be able to voice their opinion in a way that respects the mayor, Cr O’Connor said.

Cr Simon Murray said the crackdown was an Office of Local Government directive.​

But, a spokesperson for the Office of Local Government confirmed media policies are a matter for individual councils and councillors.

"I’m not trying to stop any transparency, it’s purely trying to make sure there is some sort of a respect in there that the mayor is the spokesperson,” Cr Murray said.

“Otherwise everyone just goes off their baton and will talk about every issue.”

If the policy is passed, councillors can only speak to the media with permission from the mayor.

Cr Murray said he would oblige, but councillors would be given “a pretty steady line of answers".

“I’ll be saying to her [Dorothy Robinson] just remember to follow the decisions made by council, you can’t talk outside that,” he said.

The Draft Media Policy would be adopted retrospectively.

Councillors that have spoken to the media since November could be subject to Code of Conduct breaches.

Coffs Harbour City Council’s media policy allows all councillors to speak openly with the media.

The policy is on public exhibition at yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au/draft-media-policy.

Submissions can be emailed to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au or sent by mail to council offices.