Robert Charles ManningOAM (born 16 October 1945) is an Australian former politician who served as mayor of Cairns from 2012 until his resignation in 2023.[1]
He has had a lengthy involvement with the Airports Council International from 1993 to 2000 (including president, vice-president and vice-chairman)[4] and was the director/chairman of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (previously Far North Queensland Promotion Bureau) for eleven years from 1986 to 1997.[4]
In 2012, Manning purchased nationally acclaimed company Events NQ.[13] In February 2015, Events NQ was put into liquidation, with staff left without their entitlements and creditors unpaid.[14]
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".[15]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.[16][17]
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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
Manning announced his resignation, effective immediately, on 17 November 2023. He was replaced by deputy mayor Terry James.[18]
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.[2]
In 2002 Manning was awarded Cairns Citizen of the Year.[19]
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".[20][21]
^ abcd"About Bob". Official Vote Unity Website. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Tributes flow as port boss quits", The Cairns Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 2, 19 April 2002
^"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." "Brisbane bully boy tactics", The Cairns Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 8, 19 April 2002
^"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." "'I was pushed...' Former port chief tells court of stoush with government", The Cairns Weekend Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 3, 8 October 2005
^"Mr Manning, who resigned in April last year, said the costs had to be passed on and the loans were a tax on business." Lloyd, Graham (27 May 2003), "State-owned corporations 'misused' as cash cows", The Courier Mail, Brisbane, QLD, p. 2
^"Manning heads on", The Cairns Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 2, 3 August 2002
^"Manning at helm of Cairns ship builder", The Cairns Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 37, 16 October 2004
^"NQEA manager snares plum airport job", The Cairns Post, Cairns, QLD, p. 3, 4 June 2005
^"Archived copy"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)