Former federal candidates Phillip Musumeci and Renee Lees enter Cairns Regional Council race
Two former federal election candidates, a local GP and a 65-year-old environmental campaigner once arrested for protesting against Adani constitute Cairns’ newest team of council candidates.
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Former federal election candidates Phillip Musumeci and Renee Lees are among a team of six that has entered the Cairns Regional Council elections race against Unity and Team Eden.
The team, Community First, is led by Whitfield resident and former president of Cairns and Far North Environment Centre’s management committee Denis Walls, the mayoral candidate.
Mr Walls, who has resided in Cairns for 33 years, will be up against Unity Team leader and deputy mayor Terry James and Division 5 councillor Amy Eden, who will lead her own team.
“It’s clear the town needs a new direction after almost 12 years of Unity Team mismanagement, secrecy and lack of accountability,” Mr Walls said.
“We need a new vision and a forward thinking and consultative team to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
“With the ‘Towards 2050 Growth Strategy Framework’ out for public consultation, it is clear from the feedback so far that we need to plan carefully to balance development and safeguard the environment that gives Cairns so much of its character.
“Community First will also have clear policies on affordable housing, better transport and a strong, safe community.”
Mr Musumeci, an engineer and former Australian Greens candidate for Leichhardt, will contest Division 8.
He will compete against Unity’s candidate and Division 8 incumbent Rhonda Coghlan, and Team Eden’s Jo Piggott.
Ms Lees – an Edge Hill resident, lawyer and former Socialist Alliance senate candidate – will contest Division 7 against Unity’s Matthew Calanna, general manager of Calanna Pharmacy.
“Around me I see a growing city that’s not investing in our future. I’ve actively been working for affordable housing, better public transport, bike and footpaths and caring for nature,” Ms Lees said.
Dr Nicole Sleeman, a Freshwater resident and GP at Cairns Doctors on Barr St, will contest Division 6 against Unity’s incumbent councillor Kristy Vallely and Team Eden’s Shane Trimby.
Dr Sleeman said the council needed a public health voice.
“There is so much opportunity for the council to be doing more to support community wellbeing and I have the knowledge and experience to drive this,” she said.
Community First will run Carine Visschers against two-term incumbent Brett Olds for the Division 9 seat.
Ms Visschers is the first announced challenger against Mr Olds, whom Unity leader Mr James decided to run no candidate against.
Ms Visschers was previously arrested after blockading a Bravus, formerly Adani, construction site at Mount Coolon in 2021.
She received a $600 fine but no conviction was recorded.
Mr Walls said his candidate had stood by her pro-environmental convictions during her 2021 protest and described the incident as “minor”.
Community First will run Liam Smith, an electrician, in Division 3 against incumbent Cathy Zeiger and Unity’s Heidi Healy.
Mr Walls does not currently have plans to run candidates in Divisions 1, 2, 4 and 5, he said.
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Originally published as Former federal candidates Phillip Musumeci and Renee Lees enter Cairns Regional Council race
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