Cr Greg Mohr brought the issue forward as a matter of urgency on Monday night as he also defended magistrates.

"We can't blame our magistrates - they're working within the law," he said.

But his efforts to gather supporting data and regional reinforcement in the pursuit of tightening sentencing laws enjoyed only a narrow victory.

A deadlock was broken by the casting vote of Cr Ben Shields, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson, granted leave to attend council business.

On October 15 the Daily Liberal reported Cr Dickerson had said: "We need cold, hard data on the sentencing regime of our particular magistrate in Dubbo."

The comments prompted the Orana Law Society to resolve on October 21 to lodge a code of conduct complaint against Cr Dickerson for among "other things , bringing the council and the office of the mayor into disrepute and failing to treat others with respect at all times as well as intimidation of a judicial officer".

Cr Mohr called for tougher penalties for repeat offenders to be implemented by the state government and said magistrates were working within the scope of the law, the Daily Liberal reported on October 20.

At the council meeting on Monday, Cr Mohr brought the matter forward during the comments and matters of urgency section of the meeting and Cr Shields ruled it could be considered a matter of urgency, thus allowing Cr Mohr to proceed.

Cr Mohr moved that: "as a matter of great urgency council proceed to make representations to the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils (OROC) seeking its assistance in endeavours to obtain data from the state government in respect of linkages between sentencing regimes and crime levels and further obtain assistance from OROC in pursuits to tighten sentencing laws regarding repeat offenders".

He spoke of sentencing laws that allowed not just first offenders but also repeat offenders to be placed on bonds.

"Unfortunately this is what happens," he said.

Cr Mohr said there were exceptional circumstances and he understood the law needed to be flexible.

At one stage Cr Tina Reynolds called a point of order, but Cr Shields ruled there was no point of order.

When the motion was put, there were four votes for and four against.

Cr Shields used his casting vote as chairman and the motion was carried.

Councillors Lyn Griffiths and Greg Matthews were absent from the meeting due to personal reasons and granted leave.