Hawkesbury City Council has banned the Hawkesbury Gazette and Hawkesbury Radio from all Council premises — including Council meetings — for media purposes, effective immediately.

The ban has attracted the interest of the local government minister and the Office of Local Government, and will subject to a councillor motion next week seeking to overturn the ban.

The Council says the decision is based on its workplace health and safety obligations under section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, arguing the outlets’ conduct has created a risk to the health and safety of councillors and staff.

It alleges a pattern of harassment and defamation — including racist vilification in comments — along with repeated factually inaccurate and biased reporting, and bullying aimed at influencing Council business.

Despite the ban, Council insists it’s not stopping the outlets from reporting, pointing to live streamed meetings and continued access to written correspondence and media responses under Council policy.

The move has drawn broader attention, with Acting General Manager Will Barton defending the decision in an interview on ABC Radio in Sydney.

In response, the Gazette says the issue isn’t just about building access — arguing Council is reframing a dispute about scrutiny and accountability as a workplace safety matter, and warning this could set a precedent for restricting press access to public institutions.

The Office Local Government confirmed to the Penrith Press that it was investigating whether the council was acting within the law by imposing the ban.