Olympics feud: Tate fires back at Schrinner

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has fired another salvo in his bitter war of words with Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner over the 2032 Olympics.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has fired another angry shot in his bitter war of words with Brisbane counterpart Adrian Schrinner over the 2032 Olympics.

Cr Tate is fuming after being overlooked for a spot on the 2032 Games board for a second time by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors.

The council, headed by Cr Schrinner, last week chose Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart to replace drink-driving-accused Redlands Mayor Karen Williams after she was dumped from the board.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate

Cr Tate slammed the “snub” as “crass” and “disappointing”. He has been agitating for a board spot based on the Coast’s record in hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the fact it will host 14 Olympic and Paralympic sports in 2032.

But Cr Schrinner hit back, saying the Gold Coast had “chosen to remove themselves from this discussion” by withdrawing from the Council of Mayors.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner

Now Cr Tate has returned fire, saying the cost of $350,000 a year to be on the council is not value for money for ratepayers.

“That’s $1000 a day so every 20 days, we could put up two new shade sails at our children’s playgrounds … or pay to be on a committee,” he said.

“My focus will be on direct advocacy through the Local Government Association of Queensland, which has the attention of the Premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk).

“As mayor, I remain open to being offered a board position on the SEQ Olympics Board, as we have operational experience when it comes to delivering the 2018 (Commonwealth) Games.

“But I’m not going to pay $350,000 year after year for the privilege – that’s a lot of shade sails.”

Tom Tate with Gold Coast Commonwealth Games mascot Borobi