A lot has been said about the economy of Cairns, its reliance on and vulnerability to the tourism market. Slowly, the mining boom in the rest of Australia is having an effect on employment in Cairns , but we still need to find other industries to employ the thousands of people who are moving up here from down south and the other parts of the world.
Already, there is a small but flourishing digital economy in Cairns, with graphic designers and web design companies servicing mainly the local market, but with the potential to go much further afield. If we want a (reasonably) eco-friendly industry to base up here in the tropics, then this is a great way to go, high value knowledge based business with a small effect on the immediate environment (lots of people, working out of their own homes, electronically connected not commuting).
After a somewhat dramatic meeting on the Great Barrier Reef, 
There are a few people now blogging in Cairns. Interestingly, the majority of bloggers in Cairns appear to blog as an extension of their business platform. Go Cairns Business Bloggers!