Cairns Unity Team’s Jeremy Neal appointed as Division 4 councillor

A heated and bitter journey ended in little more than a polite round of applause as the Cairns Regional Council CEO swore in a new Division 4 councillor.

Unity Team member Jeremy Neal has been elected as the new Division 4 councillor. Picture: Brendan Radke

Earlville’s Jeremy Neal is Cairns’ new Division 4 councillor as a bitter and heated process ended in little more than polite applause after a special council meeting on Thursday.

Mr Neal, a member of Cairns Unity Team, was among eight nominees for the position.

The council was obliged under Queensland’s Local Government Act to fill the empty Division 4 seat after Terry James was promoted to mayor in November 2023.

The five Unity Team councillors voted in favour of Mr Neal, ending the meeting after just seven minutes.

Mr Neal, who will contest the Division 4 election in March, said his focus was now on representing Division 4 through the ongoing flood recovery period.

Terry James, who chaired the meeting, said he was expecting more resistance from independent councillors. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It was a rough landing but we got there in the end,” he said.

“If people in Division 4 have any issues they’re welcome to contact me.

“People still have issues during the caretaker period, they still need to be represented right through to the March election.”

The Cairns Regional Council tried to appoint a Division 4 councillor on December 21, but the meeting descended into chaos; the agenda item did not progress past the first nominee when a conflict of interest issue reared its head.

After more COIs, meeting adjournments, quorum issues and bitter name-calling, the process completely broke down and the matter was rescheduled, to the consternation of those watching in the gallery.

Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger abstained from voting. Picture: Brendan Radke

The council obtained advice from Queensland’s local government minister Meaghan Scanlon that allowed full participation from all councillors at Thursday’s meeting.

When Mr James, who chaired the meeting, called for any conflict of interest declarations, no hands were raised this time.

“I was expecting something to happen, obviously (the other councillors) thought better of it,” Mr James said.

“We abide by the rules of the Local Government Act. We had to do this (appoint a new councillor).

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds nominated former Mulgrave Shire councillor Ross Parisi for the position, but the nomination only received three votes. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Jeremy has a lot to learn. The grassroots stuff is still happening … someone needs to look after the Division, the people of Cairns deserve it.”

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds nominated former Mulgrave Shire councillor Ross Parisi for the job, but the motion received support from only two other councillors.

Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger abstained from the vote as she believed the process was “wrong, flawed and inequitable”, despite acknowledging the process was legal.

“No-one else got a look in,” Ms Zeiger said.

“There are five (Unity councillors) on a team, and they voted their guy in so he could get a leg-up at the next election … that’s just wrong, it was already a done deal.”

Originally published as Cairns Unity Team’s Jeremy Neal appointed as Division 4 councillor