Cairns Mayor Amy Eden admits to misconduct over conflict of interest

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden admits to misconduct over conflict of interest

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden has made a second public admission of wrongdoing in three weeks following a ruling by the Queensland Councillor Conduct Tribunal. The admission, mandated by the tribunal, centers on a failure to declare a conflict of interest during a 2023 vote to select a list of preferred suppliers, one of which was operated by a former business partner and friend of the mayor.

The revelations sparked a volatile Cairns Regional Council meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, where fellow councillors condemned the mayor's behavior and her efforts to limit transparency regarding the findings. Tempers flared as Cr Eden attempted to block councillors from asking questions about the misconduct and stopped a councillor from moving a motion of dissent.

During the proceedings, council chief executive Ken Gouldthorp intervened to correct meeting procedure, informing the mayor she did not have the power to adjourn the meeting to seek advice. At one point, Cr Eden interrupted Mr Gouldthorp, stating: I feel like you are trying to make me look like a fool.

The conflict over the mayor's conduct led Councillor Brett Moller to move a motion of unsuitable meeting conduct, which was eventually carried. Deputy Mayor Brett Olds asserted that the mayor's refusal to answer questions reflected poorly on the entire council and eroded public trust.

"I think the people of Cairns deserve an apology from you,"

Brett Olds, Deputy Mayor, via abc.net.au

This is the third time Cr Eden has admitted to breaching the code of conduct. Last month, she admitted to two counts of misconduct for leaking confidential council information to a journalist in 2023 while she was a first-term councillor. The Queensland Councillor Conduct Tribunal, led by President Russell Hood, found she breached section 171(3) of the Local Government Act 2009 in two specific instances:

• An email sent on January 20, 2023, containing extracts of legal advice obtained by then chief executive Mica Martin regarding the use of discretionary funds for a public art installation on the Cairns Esplanade.
• An email exchange forwarded in May 2023 disclosing a confidential workshop discussion about whether the council should fund legal costs for a former councillor.

The tribunal noted that disclosing material to a journalist was an aggravating factor because of the capacity for wide dissemination. While the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) argued that Cr Eden showed a lack of insight and proposed a pecuniary penalty of $1,669, the tribunal declined the fine, noting that such penalties are typically reserved for those with prior disciplinary histories. Instead, the mayor was ordered to complete training on confidentiality obligations and make a public admission.

The council also took financial action on Wednesday. Councillors voted unanimously for Cr Eden to repay a $15,000 excess fee from an insurance claim the council made to provide her with legal assistance. This legal aid was sought during the proceedings for the leaks of confidential material. Under council policy, councillors must repay the excess if they are found guilty of misconduct.

Cr Eden, who became mayor in 2024, has since argued that she has learned a tough lesson and is now advocating for councillor workshop topics to be made public. In a statement, she said she accepted the adjudicator's decision but stated, I am not supportive of the unnecessary political pontificating by councillors.

Other council members, including Anna Middleton, maintained that the community has a right for transparency regarding the admissions. Cr Moller defended the requirement to repay the insurance excess as acting in the best interests of residents rather than taking an adversarial position.

Cr Eden has confirmed she will comply with the tribunal's requirement to complete the mandated training.