Cairns ratepayers’ bill for mayor Amy Eden’s Brisbane training course

Documents exclusively obtained by the Cairns Post can reveal the amount ratepayers paid for Cairns mayor Amy Eden to attend a training course in Brisbane earlier this year.

A Far North mayor has billed ratepayers more than $11,000 to attend a week-long training course in Brisbane ahead of the federal election, a Right to Information (RTI) request has revealed.

Cairns Regional Council signed off on mayor Amy Eden attending an Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course in April which provided “governance education” and guidance on how to establish a strong workplace culture, ethics and integrity.

The course cost $8,800 with Ms Eden’s former campaign adviser-turned-acting CEO John Andrejic approving a $500 additional fee to change the dates during which the mayor would attend last September.

The RTI documents reveal that a further $1410.36 was spent on accommodation with the mayor staying at the Oaks Aurora Towers in the state’s capital.

Ms Eden’s airfares totalled $522.45 with meals and incidentals tallied at $235.93 for the week.

Overall, expenses for Ms Eden’s trip to southeast Queensland reached $11,468.74.

The mayor’s absence surprised several councillors who were unaware that she would be attending the course until after her departure.

Cairns Regional Council mayor Amy Eden and her former campaign adviser-turned-acting CEO John Andrejic at ordinary Council meeting in June, 2024. Mr Andrejic, who has since been replaced, approved a number of expenses related to Ms Eden attending the AICD course earlier this year.

The documents requested by the Cairns Post also showed that Mr Andrejic approved the council spending $2,528.00 so that the mayor could become a Qantas Club member.

The council also purchased Ms Eden a Virgin Lounge membership, worth $549.00 last year.

Following her work trip, Ms Eden refused to answer questions related to the course, failing to provide details related to its cost, incidentals and who approved the expenditure, prompting the RTI request.

Cairns mayor Amy Eden has refused to answer questions regarding her trip to Brisbane to attend a training course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors earlier this year. Picture: Brian Cassey

Last month, the mayor said she couldn’t provide the information because she didn’t “want to go to jail”.

“I don’t deal with operational matters,” Ms Eden said at a press conference in late April.

“Councillors, as elected members, we can’t delve into operational matters.

“They say that orange is the new black. But orange is not good on me and I don’t want to go to jail.”

Local government minister Ann Leahy challenged the Far North mayor’s claim.

“Under the Local Government Act, councils must disclose all costs incurred by the Mayor in its annual report,” Ms Leahy said in a statement.

The principles outlined in the Act declare that councillors and councils must be transparent and decision making must be in the public interest.

Ms Eden will hand down the council’s budget in June.

Originally published as Cairns ratepayers’ bill for mayor Amy Eden’s Brisbane training course