Bob Manning (mayor) explained

Bob Manning
Birth Name:Robert Charles Manning
Birth Date:16 October 1945
Birth Place:Cairns, Queensland
Nationality:Australian
Alma Mater:University of Southern Queensland
Office:Mayor of Cairns
Term Start:28 April 2012
Term End:17 November 2023
Predecessor:Val Schier
Successor:Terry James
Office2:Leader of Cairns Unity
Term Start2:18 January 2012
Term End2:17 November 2023
Predecessor2:Party established
Successor2:Terry James
Party:Cairns Unity
Spouse:Claire Manning
Children:2
Serviceyears:1971
Rank:(Temporary) Lieutenant
Unit:Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
Battles:Vietnam War (19701971)
Awards:is not set -->
Military Blank1:Service number
Military Data1:1734304

Robert Charles Manning (born 16 October 1945) is an Australian former politician who served as mayor of Cairns from 2012 until his resignation in 2023.[1]

Early life

Manning was born in Cairns, and attended Edge Hill State School, and Cairns State High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from the University of Southern Queensland. Manning served three years in the Australian Army including service in the Vietnam War from 1970 to 1971.[2] [3]

Career

Manning's first major position was as CEO of the Longreach Shire Council for eight years. In 1984 he returned to Cairns and became Secretary and then CEO of the Cairns Port Authority (including the Cairns Airport) for eighteen years from 1984 to 2002.[4] After resigning his role at the port as a stand against "bullying tactics" by the Queensland Government,[5] [6] [7] Manning began consulting work in Jordan and South Korea. In 2004 Manning became the General Manager of NQEA Australia Pty Ltd before heading overseas again to take up the role of CEO of Hermes Airports Ltd (including Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport) in Cyprus until 2008.

He has had a lengthy involvement with the Airports Council International from 1993 to 2000 (including president, vice-president and vice-chairman) and was the director/chairman of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (previously Far North Queensland Promotion Bureau) for eleven years from 1986 to 1997.

In 2012, Manning purchased nationally acclaimed company Events NQ.[8] In February 2015, Events NQ was put into liquidation, with staff left without their entitlements and creditors unpaid.[9]

Mayor

See also: Cairns Unity Team. In January 2012, Manning announced his intention to run for mayor of Cairns at the upcoming local government elections with a team of candidates under the name "Unity 2012".[10] Kevin Byrne, a former mayor, had previously run his team under the banner of "Cairns Unity Team". Manning considered the Unity 2012 team to be apolitical and publicly stated that Unity 2012 had no political affiliation.[11] [12]

Manning was successful, being elected with 55.61% of the vote. Following his victory, he borrowed $150,000 the following year from a developer lobbyist while he was facing bankruptcy — which would have automatically disqualified him from office. Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) launched an investigation in February, after the state’s local government watchdog referred the matter as potential corrupt conduct. The lender was Ranjit Singh, a lawyer representing developers in some of Cairns biggest building projects. Authorities found the loan was interest-free, never formally documented and has not been repaid.

Manning announced his resignation, effective immediately, on 17 November 2023. He was replaced by deputy mayor Terry James.[13]

Family and personal life

Manning is married to Claire Manning and they have two grown children, Mark and Belinda. Bob Manning's father founded Manning's Pies, a local pie shop.

Awards

In 2002 Manning was awarded Cairns Citizen of the Year.

In 2004 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for "service to the community of the Cairns region through the development and promotion of the tourism, maritime and aviation industries".[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cairns Regional Election Results. Cairns Post. 28 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430113525/http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/04/28/216855_local-news.html. 30 April 2012. live.
  2. Web site: About Bob. usurped. https://archive.today/20121231034930/http://www.voteunity.com.au/about_bob. 2012-12-31. 2012-02-07. Official Vote Unity Website.
  3. Web site: Service record: MANNING, Robert Charles . Vietnam War Service . Department of Veterans' Affairs . 29 June 2021 . 10 July 2021 .
  4. Web site: Bob Manning – Mayor of Cairns, Cairns Regional Council. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613060251/https://www.cairnschamber.com.au/files/media/original/396/0a8/52a/BOB-MANNING.pdf. 13 June 2020. 13 June 2020. Cairns Regional Council.
  5. "Bob Manning's shock resignation yesterday was the price he paid for standing up for Cairns against the bully boy tactics of State Government ministers."
  6. "Bob Manning has claimed he was pushed from office in a move headed by Premier Peter Beattie after he objected to $55 million of port authority money being handed to the state."
  7. "Mr Manning, who resigned in April last year, said the costs had to be passed on and the loans were a tax on business."
  8. Web site: Port Douglas News - the Newsport Daily | Manning buys Events NQ . 25 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150225150500/http://www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/Manning-buys-Events-NQ-NEWSPORT.8429.0.html . 25 February 2015 . dead .
  9. Web site: Cairns Mayor Bob Manning's business closes and placed in liquidation | Business News | Business and Finance News | | Cairns Post . 25 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150225145327/http://www.cairnspost.com.au/business/cairns-mayor-bob-mannings-business-closes-and-placed-in-liquidation/story-fnjpusdv-1227237694011 . 25 February 2015 . live .
  10. Web site: Businessman joins mayoral race . ABC News . 18 January 2012.
  11. News: Bob Manning's focus on rebuilding Cairns economy . 6 March 2012 . The Cairns Post . Cairns, QLD . 19 January 2012 . White . Tarina . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303023345/http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/01/19/201531_local-news.html . 3 March 2012 . live.
  12. Web site: Archived copy . 25 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150406073744/http://cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/70281/Profile-Mayor-Bob-Manning.pdf . 6 April 2015 . live .
  13. Web site: Council . Cairns Regional . 2023-11-17 . Mayor Bob Manning retires from office . 2023-11-25 . Cairns Regional Council . en-AU.
  14. Web site: It's An Honour . 2012-02-27 . Australian Government . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055931/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1056320&search_type=simple&showInd=true . 4 March 2016 . live .