A RACIAL vilification matter between a senior Balranald Shire Council staff member and contract worker has reached the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

It is alleged the council's general manager, Michael Kitzelmann, called a council subcontractor of Maori descent a gorilla on November 29 last year.

On or around March 9, the complainant, Bayard Tokohihi Heke, lodged a formal complaint with Balranald Shire Council.

Furthermore, advocate for Mr Heke, Peter Jess, has lodged a complaint against Mr Kitzelmann and council administrator Michael Colreavy with the Anti-Discrimination NSW commissioner.

The AHRC is an independent third party investigating discrimination and human rights breach complaints.

New South Wales Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock, Balranald Shire Council and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian have been contacted regarding the matter.

In a letter to AHRC commissioner Edward Santow, Mrs Dalton said the NSW Government's failure to appropriately act on the matter highlighted systemic problems with how the NSW Government handled such matters.

"It's also disgraceful that the administrator and Minister (for Local Government) are apparently satisfied with an apology that refers to alleged racial vilification as banter to 'create a ...