, a progressive ticket, has been formed to challenge a conservative group that dominates the Cairns Regional Council. The Queensland local government elections will take place on March 16, 2024.
The Community First team include members of the Socialist Alliance, the Greens and independents. Some left Labor members are supporting the ticket.
Candidate Renee Lees told ΒιΆΉΣ³» that the council is βvery business and developer heavyβ. She said they have βincreasingly taken council down an anti-democratic pathβ including by limiting councillorβs ability to put motions. They have also been accused of repeated conflicts of interest.
The found in 2021 that former Mayor Bob Manning had not repaid a βsweetheartβ $150,000 loan from a lawyer connected with local developers. Manning resigned as mayor on November 17, allowing Deputy Mayor Terry James to take the job and run as an incumbent.
Community First has a including affordable housing, better public transport and climate action. It is supporting restorative justice solutions to youth crime as opposed to a controversial new youth detention centre.
The group supports democratic reforms, including measures to end βconflicts of interest and dodgy dealsβ in council. If elected, they plan to organise monthly neighbourhood meetings with residents.
Lees said the housing crisis in Cairns meant that the ticket was pushing for limits on rate rises, measures to ensure major developments include affordable and public housing and restrictions on AirBnB to expand local rental options.
Community First is organising a January 30 forum about what council can do to tackle the housing crisis.
Its candidates are: Denis Walls for Mayor, Marisa Seden (division 3), Dr Nicole Sleeman (division 6), Renee Lees (division 7), Phillip Musumeci (division 8) and Carine Visschers (division 9).