‘Crazy stuff’: New adviser’s blunt on-air assessment of Cairns mayor Amy Eden

Mayor Amy Eden’s new $150,000 a year council adviser didn’t beat around the bush when it came to offering her some strong feedback on conflict of interest concerns during his weekly radio program earlier this year.

One of Cairns Mayor Amy Eden’s new $150,000 a year council advisers didn’t beat around the bush when it came to offering her some strong feedback on the council’s conflict of interest concerns during his weekly radio program in June this year.

Ms Eden announced former Cairns MP and broadcaster Gavin King will serve as one of two councillor advisers via Facebook earlier this week.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden chairs her first council ordinary meeting at the council chambers. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr King, who will start work at the council later this month, is set to help craft media policy and strategy in partnership with the city’s leader.

In late June, the former pollie-turned-radio presenter hit the airwaves with Cairns Post reporter Samuel Davis to share some observations on the mayor’s decision to walk out of a press conference after being asked a question related to lingering conflict of interest concerns.

Former Member for Cairns Gavin King during a radio interview at the ABC Far North studios in 2012. Picture: Rob Maccoll

Ms Eden chaired a selection panel that recommended her campaign adviser, John Andrejic, become council’s interim CEO in May.

“Wow. Our new mayor, Amy Eden, she’s had quite the rollercoaster ride in her first three months,” Mr King said on 4CA’s King Review program.

“It’s only been three months and, of course, a lot of that rollercoaster ride has to do with the appointment of a campaign adviser, and former CEO of the Cairns Regional Council.

“He’s now the interim CEO at Cairns Regional Council, John Andrejic. Lots of concerns have been raised about conflicts of interest.

“It’s got under the skin of our new Mayor and, no doubt, the interim CEO as well, among others.”

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden walks away from a post-budget press conference after being asked questions regarding ongoing conflict of interest concerns related to the appointment of the council’s interim CEO, John Andrejic.

During the segment Mr King criticised Ms Eden’s failure to answer whether she had been contacted by the Crime and Corruption Commission over Mr Andrejic’s appointment at a press conference.

“They’re fairly basic, straightforward and totally not unexpected questions,” he said.

“Crazy, crazy stuff. So, look … what kind of advice is the mayor getting?

“There would have to be a pre-briefing. Of course that would’ve happened. Surely.

“We can’t say what happened but it would’ve happened, surely. They would’ve prepped about the budget, they would’ve prepped about this question, in particular.”

A council spokesman said recently that the CCC has not contacted Ms Eden or Mr Andrejic over his appointment.

Cairns Regional Council has since engaged the services of recruitment agency Davidson to oversee the appointment of a permanent CEO.

Originally published as ‘Crazy stuff’: New adviser’s blunt on-air assessment of Cairns mayor Amy Eden