What you said about the term ‘ranga’ as Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate faces disciplinary action

News that an Aussie mayor is under investigation for jokingly using a word to describe a fellow councillor has sparked furious debate. HAVE YOUR SAY

It was the Ranga clanger that has left many seeing red.

News that an Aussie mayor is under investigation for jokingly calling a fellow councillor a “ranga” sparked furious debate online.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate faces potential disciplinary action after the state’s council watchdog upheld a complaint that the term “ranga” refers to an orangutan, is associated with “discriminatory feelings” and Cr Tate’s use of the word was “not funny” and “extremely derogatory”.

The mayor has vowed to fight the matter, saying he “had no idea that the term ‘ranga’ was offensive to some people”.

The probe follows the complaint to the Office of the independent Assessor into lighthearted comments the mayor made at a media conference in April after the council elections.

Cr Joe Wilkinson alongside Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Campbell

But an anonymous complainant did not see the humour and lodged an official gripe with the OIA.

The OIA noted Cr Tate had apologised for that comment as a “poor joke” and the matter was discontinued, but “the nature of such comments make it particularly relevant for Mayor Tate’s fellow councillors to consider and decide if the commentary is in line with the community’s expectations for an elected official”.

Contacted for comment, Cr Tate vowed to defend the complaint and said he was “disappointed that the OIA has seen fit to have this matter further investigated”.

“I will be defending the allegation that I have committed a conduct breach and I am seeking (legal) advice in that regard,” he said.

Cr Joe Wilkinson said he was a “proud ranga” and had no issue with the mayor’s comments.

“The mayor says he didn’t know it was offensive and I certainly didn’t take it that way,” he said.

Readers were quick to react, with many insisting the term wasn’t offensive.

Others said it simply should not have been said – some went as far to say that Cr Tate should stand down.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

I have no issues

Michael Carter

“Christ old ranga needs to harden up, it’s just a name what a sook if he is offended and after blood, fair dinkum it’s an Aussie word.”

Rod Venn

“Is this serious. I’ve been a redhead for near on 60 yrs. I’ve been called every derivative of red head known. But I guess I grew up in another era.”

Stephen Gleeson

“As a life long Ranga I’ve alway been happy to be called it, sadly it’s going grey so these days I make the most of the remaining days as a ranga. Surely we have more to do than this.”

Stuart Nelson

“I thought winter had passed the snowflakes are collecting on the Gold Coast. Now people are using any opportunity to have a go at people and assume they have the right on behalf of someone else.”

Mike

On your side Tom – the wokies are destroying the joint.

A screenshot from MP John-Paul Langbroek's Facebook.

A post to MP John-Paul Langbroek's social media

Shouldn’t say it

Jo Cormack

“If he was only a little bit of a professional, he wouldn’t need to know. He simply wouldn’t use that word. But he isn’t.”

Troy Matthew Stein

“Love him or not, if we focus on equality and hold him accountable for that comment then the light rail FB group should be fined severely.”

Michael Black

“He should lose his job – any other staff would say that they would lose their job he should be accountable as well.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: John Gass

Take a joke, people

Tom Murray

“Time for people to get back their Aussie sense of humour!!!

Imagine if Tom Tate took offence at everything the general public calls him!”

Derek Swanborough

“Sticks and stones.....local government in Qld has become a laughing stock. Where is the resilience? The OIA need to stop wasting money on politically motivated schoolboy complaints of pretend hurt feelings. The Miles Government needs to end this gross waste of money.”

Liana Taylor

“LOL hilarious. I love Tate he still has the 90s sense of Humour. Don’t let the offended woke change you.”

matt_hk

How can you be offended on behalf of someone else. this is absurd

Originally published as What you said about the term ‘ranga’ as Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate faces disciplinary action