Unnecessary duplication

IN response to candidate Todd Olds’ proposal for the Cairns Regional Council to create another law enforcement body by way of paid security patrols throughout the suburbs, as has been trialled in Stirling, Western Australia, this is an unnecessary duplication of what is a State responsibility for law and order at the cost and expense of Cairns residents and ratepayers.

Candidate Todd Olds should identify what footpaths, playground and other services upgrades he will cut to fund patrols in his community, or will he be looking for rates and charges annual increases far above the CPI and below increases that this current council has managed to deliver in its financial management of the council budget.

Todd Olds may also like to inform himself of the geographical make up of the Cairns Regional Council area which is 1689sq km compared to his City of Stirling comparison which is only 105.2 sq km. We have many, many, more communities between Ellis Beach and Bramston Beach to be patrolled than his Western Australian comparison.

As a local government candidate he would be well advised to lobby State Government to meet their obligations on law and order rather than burdening the costs of such on Cairns residents and ratepayers.

Cr Brett Moller, Division 1

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