Page 10 - Tropic Magazine Issue 17

EDITOR’S
LETTER

As we were putting the final touches on and results. The narrative in every other
this edition, I got a call from Mark Davie, conversation lately is the same and it goes
CEO of Crystalbrook Collection. He had a bit like this:
been in meetings with Tourism Minister
Kate Jones the day before, at about the 1. Raise more money and sort out the
same time as Tropic was causing a stir with messaging to promote the destination
our online story about the old boy’s club of properly.
leadership in this city. 2. Fix the CBD to help save retail
Mark and I come from opposite ends of and restaurants while improving the
the business spectrum - I don’t oversee experience of tourists and locals alike.
hundreds of millions of dollars worth of 3. Brand our city for its livability and sell it
hotel investments across Australia, for down south to boost our population.
example. But we’re on the same page when 4. The leadership group needs to do a
it comes to Cairns. Where’s the leadership? better job of telling the story of the city’s
Who’s developing the strategy and budget vision to bring the rest of us along for the
to execute the city’s growth? Why isn’t journey.
there more urgency to boost tourism and
our economy? We’re doing our bit in the private sector,
To be blunt, we’re at a bit of a crossroads. working our arses off, employing people,
The city needs a shake up. We need some innovating and investing for growth.
new leadership, or at the very least we need We need politicians and lobby group
the current leadership to tell us their vision leaders to step up and do a better job
and start delivering. Representatives at all alongside us, or step aside so someone
levels of government and all of the many else can.
lobby groups, what’s going on?
I’ve been in politics. It’s not an easy game.
Everyone who hasn’t put themselves
out there for a leadership role or won an
election is quick to criticise and belittle
those who have. Because of my experience
as a state MP and assistant minister - my
successes and failures - I can speak with
more insight about it than most. My view Gavin King
is that Cairns is divided, lacking direction [email protected]
and suffering from a lack of vision,
identity and purpose. As an outsider, PS: If you’re a business owner with
Mark Davie shares the same view. So do an opinion, drop me a line (gavin@
local business owners I talk to. Young and tropicgroup.com.au) to chat about a
old, large and small. We all agree Cairns plan to brand our city and boost our
needs leadership, direction, vision, action population.

10 • Tropic • Issue 17