Cr Rice was questioned by senior management and the mayor, Cr Murray Emerson, after complaints were made in relation to his Facebook activity in recent months, which included forwarding posts carrying anti-Islamic messages.

While defending his actions, Cr Rice believed he owed members of the public an apology.

He posted the following retraction on Facebook earlier this week: 

“Recently I have ‘on forwarded’ posts scripted by other persons, which when read by some people, they have considered to be offensive. If people have taken offence to these, I am sorry.

“I would like to be clear that any opinion expressed by me at any time is personal and should never be considered to have been endorsed by the Northern Grampians Shire Council, councillors nor any staff member. 

“In response to complaints primarily to ABC Radio Horsham, I have shut down the Facebook page. If any person is or has been offended by my actions, please in the first instance contact me on 0417 161 342. If you feel that you have not been given a fair hearing by me, then you may take the matter further.”

Mayor Cr Murray Emerson said he welcomed the decision by Cr Rice to issue an apology.

“Cr Rice has made an apology this morning on his now personal Facebook page and has removed the offensive material,” he said.

“Council has discussed the matter at length with Cr Rice and is looking at ways to now move forward from this. Cr Rice has already accepted training and assistance from council staff on the appropriate use of social media, and this will extend to all councillors and council staff in the near future.

“We will also be using this opportunity to further educate staff and councillors on the Charter of Human Rights and our responsibilities in line with this important Act.

“While we understand that this matter has rightly been distressing for some members of the community, we trust that our swift and thorough response has successfully brought this issue to a close.”

Cr Rice said he would always remain concerned about how actions of today will shape the environment for future generations.

“My real concern is for my grandchildren and great grandchildren and what might possibly eventuate in the future,” he said.

“I am also concerned about the environment and the way we are leaving the world behind us.

“I think we have to think very carefully about what we do today, because it does effect what we are leaving behind us. Among other issues, this relates to our environment and where we are leaving that.”

In relation to his on forwarding of certain posts on Facebook, Cr Rice said he had learned a valuable lesson.

He said it was a similar scenario to issues relating to planning that occur at council, where people see things and interpret things differently.

“Much of what goes on (in council planning) is necessary,” he said.

“This is what we need to do as a whole. A lot of issues that come through council in relation to planning, a lot of people see their own little backyard and they don’t consider their next door neighbour or how it might effect the person down the road.

“Likewise, by on forwarding a post, I saw it from my point of view and saw it as being harmless, forwarded it on and didn’t consider my next door neighbour or the person down the road.

“I have now undertaken a couple of training sessions with someone who knows far more about Facebook than I do and a result of that I have a better understanding and appreciation that other people may not see things the way I do.

“I read it as harmless, other people have taken offence.”

Cr Rice said he had always made himself available to speak with anyone on any issue and that still applied now.

“I am a person who is always willing to listen,” he said.

“I believe part of my reputation is I will talk to anybody. You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to talk to me. I’m always willing to talk, always willing to listen to people and I’m quite happy to accept criticism.”

Cr Rice said he felt for his fellow councillors and staff, given what they must have been going through in the past few days.

“I am sorry if I have caused fellow councillors and any staff member of council any distress as a result of my actions,” Cr Rice said.

“Let’s put this to rest and it can serve as a lesson to the community, if you are aggrieved with a person, go and talk to that person first off. If you can’t get a satisfactory resolve, then look at how you might be able to advance it.

“If we don’t go back to one-on-one communication, we are going to see more and more of this sort of thing happening, which is then going to lead to people taking the matter into their own hands and we are going to see very regrettable and nasty situation arising.”