Council needs to be transparent

Following my revelation last Thursday about the collusion of a Councillor and a very senior staff member at Cairns Regional Council, at the height of the Cash for Comments saga, more pictures have emerged from the weekend that collaborate the original story.

The separation of power is such a vital part of our democracy. Where there's grounds for perceived suspicions where wrong-doing could be occurring, or conflicts of interest could be seen, then these need to be declared openly and honestly. That is part of being in public office and serving the people. It is also clearly stated in the Councillor's Code of Conduct.

Furthermore, ratepayers of this region deserve transparency in their elected representatives and the way in which they make decisions. Like it or not, they are not just ordinary citizens, and they should expect the scrutiny that goes with the territory of Public Office. Taking an Oath before the people, an event I witnessed last March, is something taken very seriously. It is a calling they, and they alone, choose to take. It comes with great responsibility.

On Saturday morning, two neighbours reported that the chief of Council's Finance Committee, Councillor Alan Blake, was indeed back in the neighbourhood, visiting Kerie Hull, Council's Corporate Communications Manager.

My investigation on this matter is not in isolation. What people do in their lives is of little concern to me, nor should it be to anyone. But these at not just everyday people. They are paid substantial salaries by the public purse. Both were also interviewed by QC Henry as part of the extensive Cash for Comments investigation into the arrangement between Council and Radio 4CA. I'm written extensively about this previously, and showed that both Blake and Hull had involvement, at the very early stage, most probably in an attempt to undermine the Mayor.

As most CairnsBlog readers will know, Councillor Blake threatened me with legal action two weeks ago. It was the old infamous Byrne tatic in a vain attempt to use the Council's lawyer at the Ratepayer's expense, and silence me. His actions as a senior and one would hope, experienced Councillor after already serving two terms, is one for public scrutiny. There's nothing improper about that, when there's a perceived inappropriateness.

Following my release of photos last Thursday, Alan Blake emailed a message to Councillors Cooper, Bonneau, and the Deputy Mayor Cochrane, saying they were made up, and there was no truth in them. Other commentors on this Blog called them fabricated and that they were bodged up in Photoshop, that the 'focal length' was wrong. All many of ideas came forward, in an attempt to protect and defend the Councillor. Well, they were real. I have an Affidavit from the photographer, and I researched and checked their authenticity prior to publication. I even asked for the Councillor's comments for two weeks before publishing, but he didn't want to discuss the matter. What a shame, I could have thrown them in the bin if he did.

Why does it matter if Blake is in private discussions with Council's Corporate Communications Manager, Kerie Hull anyway? It matters a great deal. In fact, it matters more now than a week ago, because we now have learnt the that QC's investigation into the Cash for Comments matters, reputedly costing anything between $20,000 to $45,000, goes well beyond who said what.

My information tells me that the Report identifies a Council that permits and allows a culture of poor processes, such as the under-mining of the Mayor and others, to exist and permeate. A culture that, under the leadership of Noel Briggs, has caused many of Council's 1000 staff, to feel very concerned about the health of their workplace. The conduct of some Councillors and senior staff, is a clear example of this covert and manipulating culture in action. It is also Briggs' plan to entomb the QC's Report, so that no one will ever see it.

That's why this matters.

There's also another interesting connection in all this. On the official Council webpage of Councillor Alan Blake, there's the declaration of "gifts over $500' as well as memberships of various organisations. There's a declaration of in the form of a cheque from an R. Payne/M. Huelin for $2,000. These are no less than the names that appear on the Williams Graham Carman website as Partners, that same folk that Alan Blake has used to take legal proceedings against myself and CairnsBlog two weeks ago.

Here is Alan Blake's bank statement, showing the deposit of donations:

...and here's the declaration of Payne's contribution to Councillor Alan Blake's re-election campaign:

Collusion and separation in power is so very important. The public and all ratepayers deserve honesty and transparency in their government, at all levels.

It's tough being in government these days, however, when things are hidden, as is the Cairns Regional Council CEO's desire to lock up the Investigator report so that no one will ever see, it will be the biggest miscarriage of justice in Cairns for a very long time. We must not allow this culture at our Council to continue to erode and damage the institution of democracy any longer.

Just to end up, here's a few weekend snaps of Alan Blake's car, minutes after he arrived at Kerie Hull's place on Saturday morning.