General News
17 June, 2025
‘Spying’ claims fully rejected
CAIRNS Regional Council has emphatically denied that it tracks the activity of residents via social media.
Last week, Mayor Amy Eden revealed on ABC Radio that she had conducted “social inquiry checks” on people who had complained about a proposed rate increase for retirement village residents, declaring she “can see them enjoying the lagoon” and other places in the community.
“I’ve done a couple of social inquiry checks online of some of the complainants and I can see them enjoying the lagoon and all the free offerings down at the esplanade,” Cr Eden told radio host Charlie McKillop on June 3. “Ratepayers pay for that. Everyone needs to contribute, and whether you use it or not, it’s having the access,” she said.
But a council spokesman said “to be absolutely clear, (the) council does not engage in tracking of residents”.
“It is well known that the mayor is active on social media and uses it to engage with the community,” he said. “It is also common for social media users to post images of themselves using council facilities, which as a social media user, the mayor made an offhand reference to on radio.”
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) is demanding a public apology from Cr Eden. RLC executive Director Daniel Gannon said he was “shocked” by this admission. “This conduct is truly shocking and bizarre. (The) council is meant to serve communities, not scare them,” he said. “Some residents now feel like council is spying on them and tracking their movements throughout the community.
“Retirement village residents have been incredibly anxious over the past three months. Now they feel violated.”
Earlville resident Colleen Duplock said Cr Eden’s comments were “outrageous”. “The very idea that our mayor is spying, intimidating and tracking persons in this community is beyond belief and calls for an explanation and a public apology,” she said.
White Rock resident Judy Holzheimer said Cr Eden was prepared to use social platforms to spy on the elderly, yet she refused to meet them.
