Cairns mayor deletes social media video over claims of conduct breach
Cairns councillors are seeking a public apology for a heavily edited video posted on social media by mayor Amy Eden that may have breached the state government’s code of conduct policy. Watch the video.
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Cairns councillors are seeking a public apology for a heavily edited video posted on social media by mayor Amy Eden that may have breached the state government’s code of conduct policy.
But Ms Eden says she apologised to councillors behind closed doors and the since-deleted post was intended to educate constituents.
The mayor cast the deciding vote to reject the Councillor Contact with Developers, Lobbyists and Submitters General Policy at an ordinary meeting earlier this month, arguing the document represented “institutionalised mistrust” of community leaders.
Following the meeting, Ms Eden posted abbreviated excerpts of the debate which councillors felt misrepresented their opinions on the issue.
Under the Code of Conduct for Councillors in Queensland’s principles and values, councillors must “clearly and accurately explain the local government’s decisions” and “accept and value differences of opinion”.
Division Six councillor Kristy Vallely said the video failed to meet that standard and had created a “false narrative” instead.
“She’s edited every part to make us sound stupid or deliver half the story,” Ms Vallely said.
“Yet, she left a large excerpt of her speech in. If you watch, it looks like she’s right and we’re all wrong.
“I would like an apology because of the way the videos were edited. She could have provided a link to the debate instead.”
Superimposed over the footage of councillors who voted against Ms Eden were red graphics reading ‘VOTES FOR Red TAPE’ which councillors described as akin to political campaigning.
“It’s like some of us got a green tick, so to speak, and we got a red cross and it just wasn’t that simple,” Ms Vallely said.
“That’s something you’d see in a state or federal election campaign.”
Division Seven councillor Anna Middleton requested that Ms Eden remove the content from her Facebook page soon after it was published.
“Mayor, I respectfully ask you to remove this post,” Ms Middleton said on Facebook.
“The edited video and labelling are an unfair representation of what I said.
“I believe it is intended to damage my standing amongst my constituents and I don’t understand as a leader why you would try to diminish your colleagues publicly.”
In a turbulent pre-budget meeting last Monday, attended by eight of the city’s nine councillors, Ms Eden agreed to remove the video from social media.
During the meeting, the mayor said she apologised.
“I did speak directly with my colleagues, which is the appropriate thing to do, and … I did apologise and acknowledge their concerns,” Ms Eden said.
“The intent of the video was to educate, not to upset or divide. That was our first casting call vote, if you will, and it was a contentious policy.”
Ms Vallely disputed Ms Eden’s recollection with multiple councillors confirming that they still felt a public apology was warranted.
“I don’t know what you’d call it,” she said of the mayor’s attempt to apologise.
“There was no understanding of what she did.”
The mayor did not respond to questions related to the potential conduct breach sent via email prior to deadline last week.
Cairns Regional Council’s next ordinary meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 23.
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