Gold Coast City Council: Expenses report reveals what councillors are cost ratepayers in 2022-23

A new report has revealed how much Gold Coast councillors are costing ratepayers in expenses, with one have a travel bill the size of the Australian average wage. ALL THE DETAILS REVEALED

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate spent nearly $90,000 on travel in a single financial year doing official duties, but is defending increased expenses citing a need to promote the city.

The council’s annual report shines a light on the spending of city leaders during the 2022-23 financial year and shows councillor expenses have fallen slightly in the past year while remaining significantly above pre-2020 figures.

Mr Tate, up for re-election in March, racked up $159,134 in expenses in the 2022-23 financial year, according to new data revealing how much city leaders are costing ratepayers.

It’s an increase of $26,7,33 on his 2021-22 expenses, and a whopping $114,256 jump from his bill two years ago for the 2020-21 financial year.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The annual report revealed the Mayor was the sole councillor to travel on official business during the financial year, clocking up $15,326 in trips domestically.

He travelled to Sydney twice for sports attraction business meetings and a roundtable with leading food manufacturers on how to reduce pressure on landfills, as well as a four-day trip to Perth for investment attraction meetings.

The Mayor made four overseas trips during the same period, costing ratepayers $74,133, including to the UK with a business delegation and for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He also went to the US for the Pacific Airshow, Auckland to inspect its boutique stadium and Dubai to promote business in the Middle East

The Mayor has defended the spend, citing the dramatic increase in air travel and the need to promote the city overseas, as well as attend the Commonwealth Games.

“Council, like everyone, has been impacted by the increase in costs across the board,” he said. “Airfares alone have surged over 50 per cent, so I have made sure my advocacy as Mayor for the City continues, to ensure we not only support investment attraction, but deliver world-class events and infrastructure.”

Councillor expenses overall topped $694,625, down from $714,151 the previous year but well-above the $268,713 recorded in 2020-21.

Cr Peter Young was the city’s most frugal councillor Picture: Jerad Williams

This is on top of city leaders salaries which top $2.8m.

Councillors also received more than $500,000 in a motor vehicle allowance, with Nerang councillor Peter Young the sole city leader not to accept it.

He continues to drive a car from council’s existing fleet.

Councillor incidental expenses were slightly lower, falling from $63,337 the previous year to $59,243.

Spending on facilities increased from $19,000 to $22,497,

This includes office supplies.

Councillors charged ratepayers $87,049, in communications expenses, down significantly from $110,665 the previous year.

This covers phone bills and letters to the public.

Mobile phone bills are no longer recorded separately in the report, though in 2019-2020 they were $17,000, on top of $47,040 on printing, stationery and postage

Now-former councillor and planning chief Cameron Caldwell, who left local government in July when he was elected to federal parliament, was the most-expensive divisional councillor, costing $61,000.

Mr Young who has represented Nerang for 20 of the past 24 years was again the Gold Coast’s most frugal, with his expenses coming in at just $17,672, almost all of which was spent on communications.

Mr Young said he was glad to have maintained his streak of low spending.

“I try to be careful and respect the ratepayer dollar,” he said.

“I am sure most councillors are of the same mind.”