Pyne needles mayors

Scott, Paronella blast claims made by MP

MAYORS of two Far North councils implicated in Rob Pyne’s fresh batch of dirt files have slammed the Cairns MP for airing false claims.

A heavily-censored dossier calling for Cook Shire Council to be placed into administration claimed the mayor, whose surname was blacked out, facilitated the use of the drug ice at the “[redacted] Inn (aka Drug Central)”.

Despite redactions, Mayor Peter Scott said it was clear the allegations referred to his and his wife’s longstanding operation of the Alamanda Inn.

He said there had been an incident six months ago when the “iced up” partner of a woman staying at the hotel with her baby caused a big disturbance.

“To say that we’re condoning it or anything like that is just a straight-out lie,” he said.

Cr Scott said Cook Shire had been actively fighting the ice epidemic since 2011.

Further allegations were made about staff bullying, having a “FIFO” chief executive officer, and the unlikelihood of the council meeting its regulatory obligation to adopt a new corporate plan by August 1.

That plan was in fact adopted on July 24.

Cr Scott believed Mr Pyne had used parliamentary privilege to publicise a letter from a “small group of dissidents”, the Cook Shire Ratepayers and Residents Association, without checking the facts.

“Where do you draw the line between parliamentary privilege and defamation?” he said.

Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Joe Paronella similarly rejected claims his council fraudulently used disaster recovery funding to fix undamaged roads.

“This complaint comes from a disgruntled serial complainant to the TRC,” he said.

Cr Paronella said the council had voluntarily taken the complaint to the Crime and Corruption Commission which found no wrongdoing.

“At no time has he (Mr Pyne) ever approached my council or myself to find if there’s any truth in the allegations,” Cr Paronella said.