The motion passed four to three votes, with councillors accusing one another of "sour grapes", being "tone deaf" and "embarrassing".

Councillor Ben Taylor put forward a notice of motion for council to look into a Positions of Council Policy which would give parameters to councillors' ability to call attention to state, national and international issues.

It had a number of submissions from the community.

The motion came after the February 28 meeting where councillor Belinda Coates put forward a notice of motion to write to the federal government in support of a ceasefire in Palestine/Gaza.

The submissions from the public were as divided as the council.

One speaker said Ballarat was the birthplace for Australian democracy and the policy would "restrict the democratic process".

Speakers against the motion echoed similar concerns around the council being constrained on how it advocates for its global community members.

One speaker argued it was important council advocate as it was the level of government closest to its electors.

They argued it was "stifling the voice" of the community, especially those who were born overseas or had parents born overseas.

"It has the undertone of excluding issues in the multicultural community," they said.

Speakers supporting the policy argued local government needed to voice local issues, especially as residents struggled with cost-of-living and faced a housing crisis.

Another speaker said the community needed the council to be delivering on "core local government issues" and supporting local business, while others labelled the policy "a misuse of council resources" and the need to focus at a "local level".

While councillors Daniel Maloney and Mark Harris were absent, there were still much discussion over the motion - including the absence of the councillors.

Mayor Des Hudson said the policy from the Mount Alexander Shire was flawed.

He said what council does is come together to determine what they accepted for their community.

Cr Taylor said the community had state and federal representation to advocate and the council needed to focus on local issues.

"Our role is to the community we represent," he said.

Councillors Tracey Hargreaves and Amy Johnson said this motion was about a report to explore issues.

Cr Johnson said it was "tone deaf to vote not for this."

Cr Hargreaves said it was a step to "perhaps have a better look at our procedures."

She said council would have its opportunity to "pick apart" a report about the policy.

Cr Peter Eddy spoke against the motion and starting his debate off by saying "I might have hearing issues but I'm not 'tone deaf'".

Cr Eddy said a policy like this was a "narrow definition of roles and responsibilities".

"Who determines impact?" he asked.

"I find this partly offensive, that nine councillors aren't mature enough to consider matters before us."

Cr Eddy said when dealing with the notices like the ceasefire call or discussing climate change wasn't a waste of time.

"I see it as serving our community," he said.

Cr Belinda Coates who brought forward the ceasefire notice of motion was incredulous over the policy.

She called it "embarrassing" and a case of "sour grapes" over the last notice of motion.

"The premise is deeply flawed," she said.

"I hope people see it for what it is - a blatant attempt to use democratic process to limit others using a democratic process."

Cr Coates said it was a means to dictate what councillors can and cannot raise in the chambers and trying to tell the community what they care about.

Cr Coates said there were already checks and balances in place over a notice of motion making it into council meetings.

"This motion does everything it criticises," she said.

Advocating for the community was a part of a council's role, according to the Municipal Association of Victoria president David Clark.

"Councils have a key role to play in the encouragement of active democracy within our local communities," he said.

"This includes in the advocacy of key issues affecting the community, at whatever level the community sees fit."