Wednesday 3 August 2011

Entsch accuses Council CEO of bullying

: Cairns Regional Council CEO, Lyn Russell.

Outspoken Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, has again taken aim at individuals within Cairns Regional Council.

Mr Entsch, a vocal critic of Mayor Val Schier, backed Deputy Mayor, Margaret Cochrane, for the position from the current group of councillors at next year's election.

"I would like to see Margaret Cochrane continue. I think that Margaret, in spite of everything, has done an outstanding job. She's copped a lot of flack, she's led in many areas where there has been virtually no leadership.

"I don't have a problem with Julia (Division 10 councillor, Julia Leu), I think that she has been doing a reasonable job. But Margaret's the only one that I think has aspired to leadership at this point in time."

Turning his attention to Council CEO, Lyn Russell, Mr Entsch said that councillors need to "stand up" to the person he says is taking the decion making away from the elected representatives.

"Councillors are elected to make decisions. When you get somebody there that is pushing and bullying and trying to make decisions on behalf of the Council I think that's wrong.

"I think that councillors need to stand up to her...Lyn Russell is an employee. They are elected representatives of their region, they need to step up to the plate. If they're not prepared to do that they shouldn't be in their positions."

Remaining on the offensive, Mr Entsch criticised the local government for its spending on the new Cairns entertainment precinct claiming that opportunities have been "squandered" to fund other projects.

"This bloody ridiculous multi-million dollar, quarter of a billion dollar, centre in Cairns - obsessed by Council, by the Mayor in particular, and yet we've got a whole range of projects that have been shovel-ready for the past two and a half years."

But Mayor Schier hit back at Mr Entsch, accusing him of spreading "misinformation."

"It's Warren Entsch that's the bully. This is an attack on councillors. Councillors are the ones who make the decisions with the advice of Council Officers.

"He has attacked the project officer for the entertainment precinct spreading deliberate misinformation and lies.

"He's getting away with making the most outrageous claims, and they're not true," she said

Cr Schier said only yesterday she had asked for councillors to come forward if they had been subjected to bullying, but none have done so.

Lyn Russell is on leave and is not available for comment.

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Alison Gotts, 10-08-11 18:32:

Warren Entsch specialises in personal attacks. I find the bullying charge hilarious, as this is his own persona - he must be finding it a new experience when two strong professional women stand up to him, when he tries to bully them. He hates the cultural precinct because it was not his idea - and now that Val has obtained the funding from State and Federal coffers for it, he hates that too. The council has voted unanimously to support the cultural precinct. Why is Entsch focusing on local council issues, something outside his brief? Let it go Warren, look at your own areas of responsibility. That's why you were elected.

Rod Roberts, 09-08-11 10:04:

Looking from a distance it seems weird that a Federal Member is so vocal in what is a local council ? It makes you suspicious there is an underlying agenda.
Being objective maybe Mr Entsch should spend more time looking internally at the National Party and why they lost so much ground in safe Country Party seats to Independent candidates? That should keep him busy enough to stay away from council matters!

Jim McMahon, 07-08-11 04:45:

Something's wrong with Entsch. He's a completely different person than his first time 'round as MP. Something is driving him to make the most absurd statements, continued flip-flops, attacks on virtually every community leader, and he's even annoyed his own Liberal mates in Parliament.

The Newsport Editor , 05-08-11 08:47:

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Barry , 05-08-11 08:21:

Who are you trying to kid Marilyn. We don't want a used car salesman or developer as Mayor, this guy hasn't been around for decades so what would he know about the place now. Wonder who is backing him?
And for the long list you supply, dreams.

Marilyn Cash, 04-08-11 16:34:

Word around town is that we have an expected Mayoral candidate who knows construction, costings, development, town planing, economy, employment, by-laws, business, management, tourism, local industry, food and export industry, sport, education, advertising, sales, liasion, and the experience is wide and far. He has a proven 'track record', has assisted in putting Cairns on the map with his own forthought and often 'risks' which profited the Local area, and community at large. To date when I have mentioned his name as future Mayor the enthusiam is healthy. Should folk in Cairns and/or surrounding areas be interested in catching up with Mr Ian Thomas, please don't hesitate to call for any reason, good bad or indifferent, his foremost concern is this City, the want to be sure that Cairns has debt reduced by means of logical factors, for which many suggestions have been made and for which seems to have fallen on 'deaf ears' of late. Ph. 0413418100 and air your negatives & positives for the 'greater majority'.

Gail , 03-08-11 16:34:

Spot on Leigh. At least he seems to have moth-balled his great big incredibly stupid idea of a monorail through the Daintree!

Leigh Dall'Osto, 03-08-11 12:31:

Interesting that Warren is once again on the attack in areas outside his position as Federal Member. I'd like him to go to Canberra and ask why the GP Super Clinic in Edmonton has not yet begun and what the exact date on the start of the upgrade to the highway south of Cairns will begin as it's partially Federally funded. Then I'd like him to start lobbying for increased collaboration between Government and Cape Communities so that all those promises he made before the election may actually get a start. Then there are the issues in the Port Douglas area with businesses doing it tough and needing him to lobby on their behalf for diversification and increased tourism numbers. After he's finished all that, he might have a right to slander those who are at least trying to do their job. Until then, I for one will be paying his comments no regard.

robert , 03-08-11 12:10:

Pot calling the kettle black.