What I can’t believe is the bloody one sided attitude of the Cairns Post’s coverage of the Mayor.  It’s not hard to see what is going on, but everyone is going along for the ride.  Even when taking a proactive, self-funded step to stay in touch with her constituents, she gets a sly compliment at best.

The Cairns Post continues it’s attacks on the mayor, and the council.  Note Saturday’s condescending headline: “Website does the trick – Val’s a good stick,” casting aspersions on her new website – local web designer too I see, good one Val.  Most media savvy politicians have sites these days so it’s not as if it’s something new.

Then onto the editorial where the new editor slips into the ways of his predecessor with this little gem.  The Comms manager has apparently ordered some display material that, “featured one of the mayor’s favourite colours.” The mayor probably wouldn’t have a clue what operational things the manager is up to but Andrew has to have a go on behalf of the ratepayer.  We had higher hopes for you Andrew.

And finally, put the boot into council by running a point of view comment by an “old”Cairns  Events manager who’s got her nose out of joint because she’s missed out on getting on board with the new Festival Cairns which sounds a helluva lot more exciting that last years unwieldy concoction of unrelated events.  I’ll be rolling up for Geoffrey Yunupingu and the Saltwater band in a free concert after the new look parade this year.

Today's Cairns Post

Well – I must say that I have been following with interest the ongoing saga that has been labeled the  “cash for comments” scandal in Cairns.  There have been several noteworthy contributions to the public discussion – two of them being (shock!) The Cairns Post courtesy of Thomas Chamberlin and  Michael Moore’s “The Cairns Blog”

Then – with all that kudos that The Cairns Post were accruing, they go and run today’s frontpage article…  what does a Mayor Val Schier have to do to get a good headline around here?

Read the rest of this entry »