Speaker’s Corner returns

***Under former mayor Kevin Byrne you could have been shot or imprisoned for 30 years with hard labour, if you gathered an audience and spoke in the town centre.

However, all that has changed. At yesterday's Council meeting it was voted to allocate a shady spot in City Place for speakers.

Absent for around 8 years, the public speaker’s venue will be reinstated, and will be blessed as Ray Jones Speaker’s Corner.

Deputy Mayor, I mean Acting Mayor, Margaret Cochrane, who chairs the Cultural and Community Services Committee (known on the inside as the SACCSC), said they considered locating Speaker’s Corner in Fogarty Park.

“Fogarty Park is quiet most days and the location did not give individuals a ready audience," Cochrane said at yesterday's meeting. “Under the fig trees on the west side of City Place is shady and has a constant flow of pedestrians,” she said.

The Council was quick to record that the approved location will allow public speakers to use the venue in line with the Peaceful Assembly Act, without having to seek formal approval to speak from Cairns Regional Council. Phew, that's nice. I mean, every time I want to speak in public, I won't be seeking approval from Chairman Mao.

I think Bryan Law should officially anoint the new spot, with a speech on how run civil disobedience. Or how about Werner and Wendy on forced non-fluoridation? Maybe Noel Briggs could run a series of speeches about how to file your 2009 Tax Return? Or Kerie Hull and Sonja Anderson could hold 'How to whip up a media release in your lunchtime'? How about John Mackenzie doing an impression of a racist-free talk back show?

Any other suggestions?

***some details of this story have been fabricated to deliberately excite non-believers.