Kuranda vs Mareeba Shire Council: MSC employees’ defamation complaint
Employees of a Far North council are threatening to sue for defamation over claims they’ve labelled as defamatory after a Kuranda resident called for their resignation on social media.
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Two employees of a Far North council are threatening to sue for defamation over claims they’ve labelled as defamatory after a Kuranda resident claimed on social media their village was “forgotten and neglected”.
A rapidly growing Facebook group has become a voice of dissent where frustrated residents can share concerns about issues relating to Mareeba Shire Council.
Amid a general rate increase of more than 20 per cent since March 2021, climbing water access, waste management and wheelie bin charges, residents claim Kuranda has not had street lighting for the past four years, the local skate park requires work, public parks are not being maintained and there is an ineffective irrigation system that wastes water every year.
Some ratepayers in Kuranda, Speewah, Koah and Myola also claim they have no footpaths, are not on town sewage and don’t have a kerbside recycling service.
Council hit back at the claims in the group as “fake news” or “alternative facts”, saying the council is restricted by the amount of funds available and the community’s ability to pay more.
Now two council employees have also hit back at one particular post in the group, labelling it as completely false, and have threatened to sue.
Through Brisbane-based law firm King and Company Solicitors, two employees have taken aim at founder of the Kuranda Ratepayers Group Mark Riley.
Posts made by Mr Riley centre on two council employees, who have labelled the claims completely false and defamatory, signalling an intention to sue over them.
The Cairns Post does not suggest any wrongdoing by either employee, nor is there any suggestion that they bear any responsibility for any of the issues which underpin the claims residents have made.
In a letter to Mr Riley sighted by the Cairns Post, King and Company stated defamatory imputations of the two employees included ridicule for council charges and council decisions on services to Kuranda, that they discharged work duties in an incompetent manner and performed roles in a manner so poorly that they deserve to have their jobs terminated.
The King and Company notice claimed the posts published by Mr Riley were false and defamatory.
“Each of these imputations are untrue, amount to defamation of our clients, and have caused or are likely to cause serious harm to our clients,” the concerns letter read.
The letter directed Mr Riley to delete Facebook posts, to publish in an open letter withdrawing imputations, and offer compensation as well as legal costs.
The Kuranda resident of 27-years when contacted by the Cairns Post remained defiant.
“I will go to jail before I apologise,” he said.
He said Kuranda was visited by more than 390,000 tourists in the last quarter of 2023 and believed a greater investment was needed from council to help imprint a positive experience for visitors.
“(Council) spending 36-45 cents per day per ratepayer,” he said.
A perceived imbalance in Mareeba and Kuranda spending dates back to 2014 when Mareeba Shire Council de-amalgamated from Tablelands Regional Council against the wishes of most living in Kuranda.
In 2013, 76.9 per cent of Kuranda voted overwhelmingly against de-amalgamation.
At the time a Change.org petition stated “being yoked to a frail Mareeba Shire Council” will bring adverse economic impacts.
A campaign to stay with the larger Tablelands Regional Council, which the town was a part of for seven year prior, was unsuccessful.
A petition opposing de-amalgamation sponsored by then Barron River MP Michael Trout received 985 signatures in 2013.
Living on the outskirts of the Kuranda town centre, Julie Cohen agreed the council was burdened with a huge geographical area and small ratepayer base.
A residential average land price increase in the Mareeba shire amounted to 21.9 per cent in 2022 since a previous valuation in 2017.
Ms Cohen understood her 21 per cent rate increase was due to the rising value of her land but she wanted to know how her six month rate bill of $1,840 was being spent.
In a written statement, Mareeba Shire Council stated abuse or defamatory statements towards councillors and staff was unacceptable.
“(We) will support staff members seeking to have this stopped, this includes providing legal assistance to take action if necessary,” a spokeswoman said.
Council dismissed dissatisfaction expressed in the Kuranda Ratepayers Group as “fake news” or “alternative facts”, however acknowledged “there are always things we could do better.”
“Council expends considerable effort maintaining and improving public assets across the shire, this includes Kuranda which is an important tourist destination,” the spokeswoman said.
“While we would always like to do more, we are restricted by the amount of funds available and the community’s ability to pay more.
“Unfortunately, there will always be a few members of the public who are dissatisfied, and social media provides them a platform to make commentary that could easily be termed “fake news” or “alternative facts” while simultaneously preventing any different points of views being expressed on their social media pages.”
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Originally published as Kuranda vs Mareeba Shire Council: MSC employees’ defamation complaint
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