Far North Queensland’s Cairns Mayor Amy Eden says she has “learned a tough lesson” after formally admitting to misconduct for sharing confidential council information with a journalist a breach that has now been upheld by the state’s integrity watchdog.
The Queensland Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) found that Eden released material she “knew, or ought reasonably to have known, was confidential to the local government.” The Councillor Conduct Tribunal determined she had forwarded an email containing an extract of legal advice obtained by council CEO Mica Martin regarding the use of discretionary funds for a public art project.
Eden also shared an email exchange between herself and the CEO that detailed discussions from a closed councillor workshop. According to the tribunal, the workshop included sensitive conversations about whether the council might fund legal costs for a former councillor involved in proceedings linked to their previous role.
The findings have placed Eden under renewed scrutiny, though she has publicly acknowledged the breach and expressed regret. The case underscores the strict confidentiality obligations placed on elected officials and the consequences when those boundaries are crossed.
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