How did OIA know of interview with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate?

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate – and I – want to know how the council watchdog knew about our interview ahead of time, writes Des Houghton.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate wants to know how the secretive local government watchdog knew the contents of an interview before it was published in The Courier-Mail.

As the person who conducted the interview, I wouldn’t mind knowing either.

In a story published on February 13, Tate was critical of an investigation carried out by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Tate was cleared of corruption allegations after an 18-month investigation.

The day before the story was published, Tate’s office got two call from the Office of the Independent Assessor, which investigates local governments.

“It is my firm view that the OIA made that contact in an effort to have me suppress my commentary, either about them or the CCC,” he said.

“The alarming matter is: how did the OIA know about the pending article, given the reporter only sent questions to the CCC and not the OIA?

“So how did the OIA know?”

The CCC has categorically denied leaking the questions to the OIA.

But somebody did.

The OIA admitted making the calls, but evaded other questions.

A spokesman said: “While the OIA does not comment on specific matters we regularly engage with individuals and organisations to ensure information, that is made public, is accurate.”