The Shire of Carnarvon has engaged a law firm to examine what it described are defamatory and derogatory social media comments made about its staff.

The comments, which it believes equate to bullying, were made on an anti-council Facebook page.

Councillors resolved unanimously at a special meeting behind closed doors to hire the law firm to look into the comments.

It has not been confirmed which staff member or councillor was the subject of the remarks, but the shire's chief executive officer Ian D'Arcy declared an interest in the agenda item "as an employee referenced in this matter".

Mid-West lawyer Michael Hayter is not involved in the case, but told the ABC the rise of social media had fuelled misunderstanding about what was considered defamatory.

"The real problem today is that people resort so much to social media and often forget the fact that what they put on Facebook and Twitter is out there in the public forum," he said.

"Truth is not always a defence to defamation."

Mr Hayter he said he was not aware of any cases in WA in which a local government had successfully sued for defamation.

"It's my understanding that there's a specific exclusion in the Defamation Act for local government," he said.

"That is not to say that someone employed by a local government couldn't take action, a shire officer, CEO or councillor, but the body itself can't issue proceedings under the act."

The social media comments are the latest in a string of conflicts between the Carnarvon Shire and ratepayers.

Council voted in May against flying the Aboriginal flag during NAIDOC week, sparking uproar in the community.

More recently allegations of bullying and harassment were levelled against the shire by a former employee.

Councillors also resolved this month to make contact with the "appropriate standards authority" regarding "inflammatory comments" made in the media by the Local Member Vince Catania.

They also expressed concern over his "attempted interference in Shire of Carnarvon business".

But Mr Catania said it was his responsibility to speak about issues within the electorate.

"What concerns me is the intimidation now that they're trying to enforce on people in the community and elected members in parliament that they can't question the shire," he said.

"Don't waste anymore ratepayer's money … because this is not what defamation is."

Shire President Karl Brandenburg has been contacted for comment.