Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate at war with “everyone” — why? Asks Steven Ciobo

THE Gold Coast’s sole Federal Minister Steven Ciobo is blasting combative Mayor Tom Tate for being “at war with everyone” — and questioning if it’s in the city’s best interests.

Mayor Tom Tate: “I will continue to put the city first, ahead of politics or politicians.” Photo by Richard Gosling

THE Gold Coast’s sole Federal Minister Steven Ciobo is blasting combative Mayor Tom Tate for being “at war with everyone” and questioning if it is in the city’s interests.

But Mayor Tate, with local luminaries in his corner, has hit back at the spray, saying he will continue to put the Gold Coast before politics and politicians.

Mr Ciobo launched the scathing attack yesterday at a media conference when asked about Bulletin coverage quoting city leaders calling for a better deal from State Government.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has copped a spray from Federal Minister Steven Ciobo who says he seems to be “at war” with “everyone”. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

As part of the coverage, Cr Tate penned a strong opinion piece, advising state and federal leaders to “take us seriously” and questioning if Brisbane powerbrokers saw the Gold Coast as a “serious voice”.

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Mr Ciobo, the Federal Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment, said yesterday: “I notice the Mayor has declared war on the State Government, the Federal Government, seems to be at war with a whole bunch of different ratepayer groups, the Mayor is at war with other mayors in the southeast corner of Queensland, the Mayor is at war with his own councillors, (one) who he is suing for defamation.

Gold Coast-based Federal Minister Steven Ciobo on Mayor Tom Tate: “This would have to be a Mayor who has more battlefronts open than I have ever seen in history.” Picture Gary Ramage

“This would have to be a Mayor who has more battlefronts open than I have ever seen in history but ultimately it is a decision for him as to how many battles he wants to be having,” Mr Ciobo said.

Asked if that was part of Cr Tate’s job to fight for the city as Mayor, Mr Ciobo added: “Ultimately ratepayers will make a decision about whether they think the best way to advance the city is to have the Mayor at war with basically everyone including his council, State Government, Federal Government and ratepayer groups.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo says of Mayor Tom Tate’s many battlefronts: “Ultimately ratepayers will make a decision about whether they think the best way to advance the city is to have the Mayor at war with basically everyone.” (AAP/Sean Davey)

“(Voters) will be deciders of whether or not that is a good approach,” Mr Ciobo said.

In response, Cr Tate told the Bulletin: “I will continue to put the city first, ahead of politics or politicians.”

Confirming he will almost certainly stand again for a third successive mayoral term, he added: “My commitment will be judged at the 2020 council elections.”

Among those in Cr Tate’s corner are Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan, and car dealership business leader and Gold Coast Titans owner Rebecca Frizelle.

In Mayor Tom Tate’s corner — Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan who calls Cr Tate “the best thing going for the city”. Photo by Richard Gosling

Two months ago, Mr Donovan called Cr Tate “the best thing going for the city”.

“Look at the development since he’s been mayor. If I was mayor, copping the criticism he cops, I’d tell the city ‘jam it’.”

Ms Frizelle said yesterday it was important the city maintains continuity of leadership “as we do not want the uncertainty that continues to plague politics at the federal level”.

Gold Coast Titans owner Rebecca Frizelle: “Mayor Tate has consistently delivered strong economic and overall growth opportunities for the Gold Coast. There is no doubt that the Mayor has the Coast’s interest at heart.” Picture Glenn Hampson

“Mayor Tate has consistently delivered strong economic and overall growth opportunities for the Gold Coast. There is no doubt that the Mayor has the Coast’s interest at heart.

“He is outspoken at times which ruffles some feathers, but we personally would prefer a passionate leader who ruffled the feathers and kept the city moving forward and creating jobs rather than a leader who was compliant whilst the city floundered,” she said.

The Mayor’s battlefronts are many:

* accused Coast Federal MPs Mr Ciobo, Stuart Robert and Karen Andrews of taking the city for granted, saying “do so at your own peril” two weeks ago;

* launched defamation proceedings against Cr Peter Young and the ABC after a documentary scrutinising council decision-making;

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* told retailers bemoaning abysmal Commonwealth Games trade “to have a look at your own product”;

* yanked Gold Coast City Council’s membership — and $235,000 annual fee — from the southeast Queensland Council of Mayors, a group which lobbies State and Federal governments for the region. At the time, Cr Tate said the city’s priorities were not necessarily the same as the region’s and he’d work harder to lobby for the city himself;

* fell out with former council ally Cr Dawn Crichlow after she claimed to have been blindsided by his now-axed proposal last year for a casino resort in Southport — she later declared “I’m right off him”;

* urged the Crime and Corruption Commission — investigating a raft of allegations into his council’s conduct — to hurry things up.