Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden doubles down against social media post claims at Cairns mayoral debate

Toowoomba’s deputy mayor has again refuted claims that she gave a Cairns mayoral candidate permission to use her words in a social media post.

Toowoomba’s deputy mayor has again refuted claims that she gave Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden permission to use her words in a social media post after the current Division Five councillor claimed she did at a debate this week.

Ms Eden vehemently denied claims of plagiarism last month after striking similarities were spotted between one of her Facebook posts and that of councillor Rebecca Vonhoff.

Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff has for a second time refuted Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden’s claims that she gave her permission to use passages of her Facebook post. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The discovery prompted calls from one councillor that she should withdraw her name from the race to win the city’s key civic post.

But speaking to around 200 Cairns business leaders at the Cairns Chamber of Commerce’s mayoral debate on Tuesday, the current Division Five councillor said she had received permission to use passages of Ms Vonhoff’s post without attribution.

“The post in question was from a colleague of mine (who is) in a support network,” Ms Eden said.

“Did I contact her and get permission? Yes, I did.”

The councillor then took a thinly veiled swipe at news coverage of the matter.

“Unfortunately, people read and believe everything that is printed in black-and-white,” she said. “What I can say is I have proven myself as a hard-working councillor who asks tough questions.

“I have proven myself to have a backbone and as someone who can put their neck out.”

Toowoomba Councillor Dr Rebecca Vanhoff was reportedly "shocked" to learn her words had been used to help promote Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden's campaign.

When contacted, Ms Vonhoff, who is busily campaigning for re-election in south Queensland, said Ms Eden’s defence of her actions were “unbelievable”, adding she stood by her previous statement issued in February.

“I didn’t give permission for my words to be used,” Ms Vonhoff said.

“I was made aware of Amy’s post after it had been published.”

Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden's Facebook post earlier this week bares a striking resemblance to Dr Rebecca Vonhoff's, published earlier in the month.

Ms Eden, who is campaigning on a platform of ‘Integrity Experience Action’, said the social media post served as evidence of her being accountable to the community.

Cairns mayoral candidates Amy Eden and Terry James look through their notes at the Cairns Chamber of Commerce's mayoral election debate lunch, held at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Yes, if I make a mistake, I say sorry,” she said.

“I apologise if there was any wrongdoing. The post in question was 283 words.

“I used a couple of them and I sought permission for that, so I have integrity and I stand here to say that I will deliver a council that stands on its word, that is integral and can be trusted.

“We need a council that we can believe in.

“Equally, we need leaders that can stand up, answer the tough questions but also ask them.”

Last month, Division Nine councillor Brett Olds said if Ms Eden had plagiarised the Toowoomba deputy mayor’s words she should quit the mayoral race.

“If you want to be a leader and sit with prime ministers, premiers and director generals and we can’t even believe your words are your own, how can you represent 176,000 people?” Mr Olds said.

Originally published as Cairns mayoral candidate Amy Eden doubles down against social media post claims at Cairns mayoral debate