CAIRNS Mayor Val Schier has put dissenting colleagues and staff on notice, warning she intends to make good use of new powers that enable mayors to deal with bad behaviour. 

The warning – and criticism of several of her colleagues – came in the unusual format of an email to a reporter that was also forwarded to all Cairns Regional Council staff.

The Cairns Post had submitted an email to chief executive officer Noel Briggs seeking to discuss matters dogging the council about a seemingly distracted and divided leadership group. The email was also copied to Cr Schier as a courtesy.

Her prompt reply was unexpected, as was her decision to send the email to the council’s estimated 1300 staff and all her council colleagues.

In the email, Cr Schier said she was confident she had fulfilled her role as leader.

"(I have) not allowed trivial matters that seem to distract some councillors to divert me from trying to deliver on the policies that people voted for when I ran for council," she said.

"Unfortunately, the breaches of confidentiality and behaviours of a couple of councillors have created a perception that this council is not functioning well.

"Disagreements are natural and robust debate is encouraged; however, I have an expectation of professional conduct that is not always met and have been working to improve this."

Cr Schier said she welcomed the new Local Government Act which would give her more power in bringing down the Budget and dealing with behaviour in meetings.

"The code of conduct will be dispensed with and all councillor behaviour will be regulated by the Act; an independent panel will investigate breaches," Cr Schier said.

"These changes can only assist in improving some of the behaviours which are distracting from the good decisions of this council."

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