Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate threatens to hand in his LNP life membership if city is ignored by feds

Tom Tate has doubled down in his feud with the Morrison Government, raising the spectre of handing in his LNP life membership over “the most inappropriate and poorly considered” statement made by an MP in his 10 years as Gold Coast mayor.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has doubled down in his feud with the Morrison Government, raising the spectre of handing in his LNP life membership.

Cr Tate has been in a war of words with the feds over funding for major Glitter Strip infrastructure including the light rail extension to Gold Coast Airport.

Coast-based Morrison Government frontbencher Karen Andrews last week dropped an election campaign bombshell when she backflipped on support for the tram extension.

She revealed she had written to Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher telling him not to provide any federal funding for the $2.7 billion last link from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta.

A furious Cr Tate slammed her statement as “the most inappropriate and poorly considered” in his 10 years as mayor.

He had earlier accused the LNP and Labor of taking the Gold Coast for granted and said he would vote for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party in the senate at Saturday’s federal election.

Mayor Tom Tate has threatened to hand in his LNP life membership. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“I’m going to send a message on the Senate ballot and avoid the two major parties, quite controversial but from the Gold Coast’s point of view, ignore us, we’ll ignore you,” he said.

“It just sends the signal, ‘Hey, don’t take us for granted’.

Cr Tate told The Courier-Mail he would consider handing in his LNP life membership if push came to shove.

“I’m a proud LNP life member but that aside, I will always put the city first,” he said.

“I bought my first gold tie when elected Mayor in 2012 and I’ve now got a cupboard full … and I wear them regularly.

“Importantly, I was never elected mayor on any party ticket and I have self-funded every election campaign since 2012.

“Being self-funded gives me complete flexibility to call the shots on any political party – state or federal.

“I will maintain a city-first approach to every decision I make in Full Council. If that means the LNP moves to disendorse my LNP life membership, so be it.

“If a move like that was ever to occur, I’d simply hand in my life membership as this role requires absolute independence from any political party.’’

The backflip by Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews was slammed by mayor Tom Tate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

An LNP spokeswoman said the Morrison Government was ‘the Gold Coast’s best friend’ Ann’s was delivering a record $3.8 billion in infrastructure projects including the Coomera Connector and M1 upgrade.

She said the government had two senior cabinet ministers in Ms Andrews and Stuart Robert who were working hard with other local LNP MPs ‘to support the Gold Coast and indeed all of Australia.

“The Morrison Government will continue to be the Gold Coast’s best friend,” she said.

“The Gold Coast City Council is the second-most funded council in Australia. The Morrison Government is invested in seeing the Gold Coast succeed – this is evident in the extensive work being undertaken across the city.”