‘Being transparent’: Confidential transcript confirms Cairns mayor attended meeting where campaign volunteer was asked to apply for CEO role
A confidential document has revealed a Far North mayor met with a key strategic advisor about taking on the top job before the former CEO left.
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A confidential document has revealed a Far North mayor met with a key strategic advisor about taking on the top job before the former CEO left.
Former Cairns Regional Council chief executive John Andrejic returned to the role in an interim capacity last Friday after being recommended to council by his close “professional associate” – Mayor Amy Eden – who chaired council’s selection committee.
Conflict of interest concerns have dogged the mayor who, as previously reported, met with the chartered accountant along with her deputy Brett Olds and Division Three councillor Cathy Zeiger in late March.
The Cairns Post is not suggesting Mr Andrejic is not qualified for the role.
Last week, Ms Eden angrily denied claims the group asked Mr Andrejic if he would consider applying for the job, which at the time was still held by former CEO Mica Martin.
But a leaked transcript of a sit-down with councillors has contradicted Ms Eden’s version of events around the meeting that led to Mr Andrejic being appointed to the interim role less than three months later.
During the tense gathering held on Monday, May 20, Troy Webb from McCullough Robertson Lawyers and elected representatives thrashed out their differences over Mr Andrejic’s potential recruitment.
The shock disclosures from the closed-door meeting include:
● CLAIMS from a Cairns councillor that a business identity and close friend of Mr Andrejic is seeking “vengeance” against him over a perceived slight during the election campaign
● A LAWYER pushed back on a request for the Department of Local Government to review the CEO recruitment process
● DONATIONS from Mr Andrejic to Ms Eden’s mayoral campaign for materials needed to erect corflutes totalled $490. Had he donated just $10 more, the mayor would have been forced to declare a conflict of interest under the Local Government Act 2009 in relation to Mr Andrejic’s appointment and
● LEGAL ADVICE that Ms Eden did not have a declarable or prescribed conflict of interest in relation to Mr Andrejic was given to council despite several councillors strongly disagreeing with the firm’s appraisal.
QUESTION ASKED
But the biggest revelation came in a disclosure statement from Ms Zeiger who admitted the trio discussed with Mr Andrejic the prospect of becoming Council’s next chief executive at the March meeting with the mayor and her deputy.
Ms Martin and the mayor came to “a mutual agreement” to end the former chief executive’s tenure in the key civic post in April.
“When we had the meeting there was no topic (of conversation),” Ms Zeiger said.
“We didn’t go for a purpose. We all know John and respect him and he did a great job while he was here.
“Brett (Olds) did ask the question that if the CEO role became available would you be interested.
“So I want to make sure that I’m being transparent and open about that.
“I do believe I can make an unbiased decision because I want what is best for the community.
“I’ve worked with John for nine years. We are all aware of what the man can do.”
Ms Zeiger was then asked by Division One councillor Brett Moller if Ms Martin’s termination was raised with Mr Andrejic.
“I didn’t discuss Mica’s contract,” Ms Zeiger said.
“I had no intention of asking about it. It’s no secret I wasn’t happy with Mica’s performance.
“I don’t remember everything clearly that was discussed.”
Ms Zeiger’s account stands in contrast to the mayor’s recollection of the meeting at a press conference last Wednesday.
Ms Eden refused to answer on multiple occasions why she met with Mr Andrejic before finally offering a brief response.
“The meeting in question was more of a debrief of the council elections that had just taken place,” she said.
“We met to debrief.”
NOTHING TO HIDE
Ms Eden enjoyed lunch with council’s new boss and business identity Greg Nucifora at a cafe in Cairns’ CBD last Friday.
The trio were embroiled in controversy when Mr Andrejic was reported to the police after hammering in one of Ms Eden’s corflutes outside former mayor Bob Manning’s Gordonvale home in February.
Mr Manning confronted Mr Andrejic, who reportedly called Mr Manning a “c..t” during the spat.
Just days later, Mr Nucifora was photographed returning to Mr Manning’s residence and placing the sign outside his home again.
In the confidential transcript, Mr Moller said he believed Mr Nucifora blamed him or former Division Seven councillor Max O’Halloran for the photo appearing in this newspaper in March.
Mr Moller said the Cairns business identity told him he would “seek vengeance against him” after the story was published.
It’s been a difficult start to Ms Eden’s tenure in the key civic post.
The mayor tripped at her first major hurdle when she couldn’t secure Federal Government funding for council’s $472m water security project – despite flagging it as council’s “number one advocacy priority”.
It means ratepayers are staring down the barrel of a major rates spike of almost $500 per year if the state government doesn’t provide some relief in its budget later this week.
Mr Nucifora did not respond to requests for comment prior to deadline.
A Cairns Regional Council spokesman said the council does not comment on individual costs, and the legal advice provided to Council and Councillors is not made public.
EDEN’S DENIAL
Excerpt from press conference with Mayor Eden on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Reporter: Why did you meet with John Andrejic on March 20th?
Mayor Amy Eden: John was assessed on merit. We had a nationwide applicant pool of 32 applicants. We had an independent recruiter and John came out as the best person for the job.
Reporter: Why did you meet with John Andrejic on March 20th?
Mayor Eden: John Andrejic came out – from the recruitment panel – as the best person for the job. All the councillors had an opportunity to be a part of the process with workshopping of questions and also with the final interview.
Reporter: At the meeting with John Andrejic on March 20th, did you discuss Mica Martin’s dismissal as has been asserted by other councillors?
Mayor Eden: The meeting in question was more of a debrief of the council elections that had just taken place.
Reporter: So why did you meet with John Andrejic?
Mayor Eden: We met to debrief.
Reporter: During the meeting, was the possibility of John Andrejic becoming council CEO raised by you or any of the councillors in attendance at that meeting?
Mayor Eden: Can you ask the question again, sorry Sam.
Reporter: Was the possibility of John Andrejic becoming Cairns’ next CEO …
Mayor Eden: No.
Reporter: … raised at any stage …
Mayor Eden: No.
Reporter: … during that meeting by you or any other councillor?
Mayor Eden: No!
Media Advisor: Hey. Come on.
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