Cairns media dramas, who's next to go?

There's been a few movements around the local media circles lately.

The last few months of Andrew Webster's leadership at the helm of the Cairns Post, an appointment that many observers have been far from impressed, left us questioning following great promises of "listening to the community" in his inaugural editorials.

Following the departure of the notorious and abusive Gavin King, Webster's "award-winning" Council reporter, Thomas Chamberlin who is on leave, is not coming back to the office. Tom has landed a transfer to the Gold Coast, to work with one of the NewsLtd stable of fine publications.

However, the big news is that Roger Dickson, an experienced journalist and one of the more mature writers at the Cairns Post, has also decided to leave the paper. This is sad as so many of the young journalists don't have an inquiring mind or depth of local issues to explore and articulate.

The story goes that over the last few days he resigned to the Editor via his mobile phone and sent a text message. I wonder if that will appear in the 'TXT Post' column this week?

• "Andy pandy, thx for the memories. Won't be in on Mon. Got betta offer. Someone who appre8's me more. Luv u long time."

The hallowed studios at Sheridan Street's ABC Far North have also seen recent shake ups.

Any regular listener will notice that the wonderful musco Richard Dinnen is no longer on air. Many rumors have done the rounds over recent months that station manager Bruce Wooley had a far from amicable relationship with the popular drive-time presenter.

Bruce himself, has also departed from ABC Far North, being replaced by an import from Mt Isa.

At WIN TV, Abigail Standbridge, a shining light in local television news reporting, has also departed, reportedly being worn out. Abby has returned to her own home business.

CEO to write a report on the report

The controversial and much-anticipated report into the Cash for Comments scandal that has rocked Cairns Regional Council over the last five weeks, has been completed and delivered the Chief Executive Officer this afternoon.

However, Noel Briggs has not given it to any Councillor. Instead he, and only he, will read it, and prepare his own report, on the report.

I'll repeat that again, because it sounds rather odd.

Noel Briggs, the guy we pay around $250,000 a year, will write his own report on Council's commercial arrangement with 4CA . Many have suggested that Noel himself, was part of the problem and is why the external investigation was called for in the first place by the Mayor.

So we, as ratepayers of Cairns, have just paid a high-ranking QC a substantial amount of money to investigate and deliver a totally independent report, only to have another one done by the CEO.

There's something seriously backward about all this:

• From: Noel Briggs
  Sent: Thursday, 28 May 2009 5:44 PM
  To: ~~Councillors
  Subject: Investigation
  
  Councillors
  I have received at 4.00pm today the report from The External Investigator.
  
  The next step is for me to read the report and then prepare a report to Council on the findings.
  
  I should be in a position to report to Council some time next week.
  I propose to call a special meeting next week. My aim is to have the meeting on Wednesday in closed session at 12.00 noon.
  
  I have to give 2 clear days notice for a special meeting so for the meeting to be held on Wednesday the notice will need to go out tomorrow.
  I will advise tomorrow.
  
  Regards
  Noel Briggs
  Chief Executive Officer, Cairns Regional Council
  T: 4044 3595

What a fiasco. The CEO is treating the Councillors like a bunch of brain-dead monkeys.

The Mayor should call immediately for full and open disclosure. Val Schier should also demand Noel Briggs remove himself from any further involvement in this matter forthwith.

However, a number of Councillors have not accepted the CEO's plan to censor the original report. Division 4 Councillor Kirsten Lesina, wants all Councillors to receive a copy immediately.

"Every Councillor should be entitled to see the full report ASAP, rather than just an abridged version," Cr Lesina told Noel Briggs, in a written response this evening.

"I request that the full report be available to all Councillors tomorrow [Friday]."

Councillor Linda Cooper also has called for a full public disclosure. "When the report comes before Council, I will be the first to ask for this to be released to the public," Cr Cooper told CairnsBlog this evening.

Kirsten Lesina, who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from James Cook University, also wants the report, given it's public interest, to be dealt with in open Council session.

"I believe that as the public has paid for the report, they have every right to know the contents and thus the report should be dealt with in open session, rather than closed session," Councillor Lesina said.

ABC Far North's Richard Dinnen interviewed Noel Briggs late yesterday. This from ABC's blog:

• But Mr Briggs was unsure of when the report will be presented to council and exactly how much of the report will be available to the public.
  
  He was unable to explain what the possible outcomes of the report will be.This is the first time Mr Briggs has commented to the ABC Far North since the investigation began last month.
  
  Click here the audio of Briggs speaking with Richard Dinnen.

Following the interview, Dinnen played Paul Kelly's Don't stand so close to the Window. It was an inspired song choice following the defiant Briggs:-

• Oh Marlene, how we fell
  What we've done now we can never tell
  Bottle of wine, then another
  Suddenly we fell into each other
  
  Don't stand so close to the window
  Somebody out there might see
  
  Then the word on the wire
  Would be just like Ash Wednesday bush fire
  Kiss me quick, kiss me warm
  Put your dress on and hurry back home
  
  Don't stand so close to the window
  Somebody out there might see
  And you're not supposed to be here with me
  
  There's a way, there's a track
  One false move and there's no turning back
  Turn the page, close the book
  Walk out the door now with never a look
  
  And don't stand so close to the window
  Somebody out there might see
  And you're not supposed to be here with me
  The walls have ears and the darkness eyes don't you see?