UN-CIVIL WAR
Bitter clash threatens end of region’s peak lobbying and advocacy organisation
Relations between Advance Cairns chairman Trent Twomey and Mayor Bob Manning have descended into a feud over the group’s leadership and direction — Peter Michael reports on what’s at stake:
THE Far North’s peak advocacy body with a $1.6 billion pipeline of projects is on the brink of collapse over an ugly internal spat.
Advance Cairns chairman Trent Twomey and Cairns Mayor Bob Manning are engulfed in a bitter brawl over the leadership and direction of the 16-year-old independent economic development body.
Cairns Regional Council will vote on Wednesday over stripping $300,000 in ratepayer funding from Advance Cairns – one-third of its total operating budget – as other disgruntled business members also threaten to pull out.
In a fiery clash yesterday, the mayor and senior council staff met Advance Cairns board members to deliver a funding ultimatum that was vigorously opposed by the advocacy body as a “gag and veto order”.
The mayor refused to comment on the outcome of the meeting, only to say that a report would be prepared for the council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday.
In a confidential letter obtained by the Cairns Post, Cr Manning outlined “two nonnegotiables” under a new resource and performance agreement.
His letter comes after he quit the board, followed by the forced resignation of his close friend ex-Cairns mayor and former Advance Cairns chief executive Kevin Byrne from the $200,000-a-year position last month.
It said: “Advance Cairns cannot promote a view or position which directly opposes a public position of council.”
Also, it “must meaningfully consult with council on executive leadership of the organisation”, the letter said.
As the elected government it was “black and white” the council must lead and for others to take their “step and timing” from them while the “main game” was the best benefit of the city and region, it said.
The Cairns Post understands some civic and business leaders privately blame the fallout on the “abrasive” personality and political ambitions of LNP stalwart Mr Twomey, who is paid $38,000a-year as chairman.
But Mr Twomey, in an expletive-filled tirade, unloaded on his critics as “sycophants sucking on the teat of local government and business’’.
He said the “knives were out” in a “hatchet job to do him over” but he had no intention of standing down, he would be re-elected unopposed as chairman and Advance Cairns could survive without council funding.
The Cairns-born pharmacist also dismissed any plans for him to be parachuted into the Senate seat to be vacated by Ian Macdonald or to be anointed as the LNP’s successor to Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
“Why would I do it?,’’ said the father-of-two, in an exclusive interview with the Cairns Post.
“I put all my time, effort and energy away from my family, and my own personal money, as a member, into Advance Cairns and getting what’s best for Cairns and the region.’’
The James Cook University Council member and Secretary-General of the World Pharmacy Congress cited his personal deputations on a list of key infrastructure projects worth $1.685 billion to the region.
These include the Cairns Convention Centre, the city’s ring road, shipping development and dredging, HMAS Cairns, JCU Cairns, Hann Highway, the Gulf Savannah Way, the Nullinga Dam and the Cairns-based Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
“Those things do not happen by accident, they are a direct result of independent advocacy of Advance Cairns on both sides of politics,’’ Mr Twomey said.
“That letter is effectively a gag and veto order while the decision for Kevin to go had unanimous support of the board.’’
Far North politicians Curtis Pitt, Warren Entsch and Bob Katter yesterday came out in public support of Advance Cairns and hit out at council efforts for Mr Twomey to be “muzzled and turned into a puppet”.
“It’s a big frog in a little puddle mentality,’’ said Federal Member for Leichhardt Mr Entsch, speaking from New York.
“Trent can be very abrasive and can offend some people, but he is a very good operator,’’ Mr Entsch said.
“Just because he does not pay homage to the good old boys, they want to shoot him down. Bob (Manning) needs to understand he is not the sheriff.
“Let’s forget about politics and personality clashes and look at what’s best for the region, and that is not tearing the guts out of Advance Cairns.’’
State Treasurer and Labor MP Mr Pitt said the financial viability and independence of Advance Cairns was clearly under threat.
“To suggest they should fall
into line with the council view, no matter what, is very concerning,’’ Mr Pitt said. “Trent is painted as a young turk and a rogue but we need an independent voice in the Far North. Advance Cairns is critical to help local, state and federal government shape its views on priorities in the region.’’ A week out from the State Election, Advance Cairns is yet to publicly release a priority list of Far North infrastructure and policy demands.
Advance Cairns member Lui Garozzo, of Total Food Network, said the body’s recent annual general meeting was a “debacle” and “embarrassing” and if the council pulled out he’d review his own financial support.
“If it doesn’t have the teeth it needs to survive, you can’t be involved,’’ Mr Garozzo said.
“I believe in that model, we need it, but we can’t have these internal factions, it is not good for Cairns.
“We’re all from a small village, we’re all in the same business circle and we’ve all got to have the same strategic goals.”
He said the latest public stoush did show an element of new young blood versus the old guard of town.
“But all that old guard were very successful businessmen, they also had the village at heart, a lot of what they did was selfless and went under the radar, they did it because they loved where they lived.”
Mr Byrne said he was unable to comment directly because of a legal confidentiality agreement with Advance Cairns.
“However it would be very difficult for any member-based organisation to survive with almost 40 per cent of its budget pulled,’’ he said.