Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate: Complaint industry ‘is a growth industry’

Mayor Tom Tate has revealed there is a ‘truckload’ of complaints against councillors, saying complaining is a new ‘growth industry’.

MAYOR Tom Tate says there are a “truckload” of complaints against councillors preventing the Office of Independent Assessor (OIA) completing his own case before the council poll in March.

Councillor Tate told media after a full council meeting today that the Crime and Corruption Commission had done due diligence and cleared council, and was right to refer any additional concerns to the OIA.

Council CEO Dale Dickson and Mayor Tom Tate. Pic by Richard Gosling.

He said he was not the only Coast councillor facing complaints before the OIA.

“There’s a truckload, right. Talk to (Independent Assessor) Kathleen (Florian), perhaps she can enlighten you further. And looking at this, was there any inappropriate misconduct prior to the establishment of the OIA, way back 12, 15 years whatever? Minimal.

“It is just when there is an avenue for this, now it’s like ‘oh OK, let’s get out there’. It’s a new trend. It’s a growth industry, the complaint industry. I know I like to broaden our economy but this is taking it to the extreme.”

Council sources suggest some councillors are receiving an official complaint each week; some generated by residents others from within council.

Cr Tate admitted he has yet to receive any feedback from the OIA after the CCC referred matters from the Operation Yabber investigation into the council.

“When they do their bit I’ll give them whatever they want. Let them take it to the tribunal and have a hearing,” he said.

Council CEO Wayne Moran leaving a council building in Southport after attending a meeting with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate — long before his suspension. Picture: Mike Batterham.

The CCC report had cautioned it was important not to draw any inferences because it would impact on natural justice leading to trial by media, Cr Tate said.

There were many matters involving other councillors to be concluded before his investigation was started, he added.

“When they’re ready they will tell me. They haven’t sent me a notice. Maybe they will decide not to proceed further,” he said.

Asked about comments by Cr Peter Young, who wants the complaints sorted by the March 28 poll date, the Mayor suggested the Hinterland-based councillor should look at other councillors being considered by the OIA instead of “focusing on one person”.

“They will set their own priority and the OIA will get around to it. To accelerate one matter ahead of others I don’t think it’s anyone’s job to tell the OIA how they should run their investigation.

“I know people would want things done quicker, I’m more than most because I keep saying ‘justice delayed justice denied’. With the CCC, unfortunately it took about 18 months to deliver the finding of no corruption.”

Cr Tate said he was “frustrated” but not upset and the OIA should be given space.

No criminal charges were laid from the CCC’s Operation Yabber. However, Cr Tate has been referred to the OIA for alleged misconduct after blocking a disciplinary investigation into his chief of staff Wayne Moran.

Gold Coast Council CEO Dale Dickson — tried to discipline Mr Moran. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Tate denied any wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct.

The State corruption’s watchdog accused Mr Moran of “inappropriately interfering in council business”.

Mr Moran has told the Bulletin last Friday: “I’m pleased and not surprised that the CCC have confirmed no corruption nor anything criminal on my part. I was never in doubt of that outcome. I will not be commenting on the remaining employment-related allegations as I do not wish to constrain any future legal action I will be taking.”