General News
15 May, 2026
Mayor: ‘You’ll be kicked out’
TENSIONS have erupted again at a Cairns Regional Council meeting, with Mayor Amy Eden this week repeatedly ordering chief executive officer Ken Gouldthorp to be silent, threatened to have him removed from the chamber and gave a “first and final” warning to Cr Matthew Tickner.
The extraordinary exchanges on Wednesday lasted for 15 minutes as councillors considered a simple conflict-of-interest declaration.
Cr Anna Middleton said she had attended several events as a councillor at an AFL club which was listed in an agenda item and had spent about $500 during those events. “I have attended these events either because they have been supported by Cairns Regional Council or I have supported the local sports clubs,” she said.
Cr Eden was the only council member to question the declaration, wanting to know whether Cr Middleton had any direct affiliation with the clubs, to which the answer was no.
Cr Eden also wanted the “precise amount” spent, noting the threshold for finance expenditure was $2000.
“I just want to see how close it is to the threshold, to see how close it is to making decision on this,” she said. “It’s pretty important.”
Cr Middleton assured the room it was below $2000. “Do you really want me to go through it, or can I just say it is close to $500?,” Cr Middleton asked but began to search for details on her computer.
Cr Eden also asked whether Cr Middleton’s financial support for the clubs was ongoing.
When Mr Gouldthorp went to advise her, she ordered him to stop speaking, however, he explained that the vote only related to the declaration “made today”.
“If the same thing were to happen on another occasion, then there would be another vote,” he said.
Cr Tickner asked that the declaration be “laid on the table” so that council moved forward.
Cr Eden overruled the suggestion with “please respect the decision of the chair.”
“I’m trying to ascertain the value of the declaration so I can make an informed decision and fellow councillors can make an informed decision,” she said.
Mr Gouldthorp also suggested council accept the amount “was close to $500”.
“Mr CEO, please refrain from speaking when the chair is speaking and the chair has given a direct request that you are not to speak at this time,” Cr Eden responded.
Cr Middleton offered to leave the room, so council could “get on with it”.
Cr Tickner added: “Just because she can’t produce the number doesn’t mean we can’t vote. She’s given you an answer to the question.”
“Point of order, Cr Tickner, first and final warning,” Cr Eden replied.
Mr Gouldthorp walked across the room to talk to Cr Middleton, who then said that the amount was “around $500 and below $1000”.
Cr Eden then wanted those words put into the declaration but was again corrected by Mr Gouldthorp on procedure.
“Don’t persist in this Mr CEO, I’m going to have to ask you to leave the meeting because you keep interrupting me,” Cr Eden said.
Cr Middleton then found the bill of $740 and councillors voted to include her in the agenda item vote.
Cr Eden reminded councillors “of the code of conduct under the standing orders in this meeting”. “This is a first and final warning for Cr Tickner,” she said.
“And I don’t appreciate the head shaking, Mr CEO, that’s unacceptable behaviour.”
