Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate stripped Cr Glenn Tozer of funding for his business degree.

MAYOR Tom Tate has successfully stripped a councillor of using a council allowance to complete a business degree at Bond University, saying it ‘did not pass the pub test’.

Councillor Glenn Tozer. Photo: Jerad Williams

MAYOR Tom Tate has successfully stripped hinterland based councillor Glenn Tozer of using a council allowance to complete a business degree at Bond University.

Cr Tate raised the mayoral minute without consulting Cr Tozer before full council yesterday and gained a majority support from councillors despite several colleagues backing the Division 9 councillor.

Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer. Photo: Jerad Williams

Councillor Tate, inside the chamber, told councillors that the study of the MBA course should not be reimbursable expenditure under the provisions for the Mayor and councillors.

His motion said council had not approved the MBA as outlined in an email from CEO Dale Dickson in November last year and asked for the policy to be reviewed.

After Cr Tozer chose to remove himself from the chamber, colleagues Dawn Crichlow and Peter Young began asking a series of questions of the Mayor and CEO.

Cr Tate said the intent of the policy was to help councillors attend conferences or obtain qualifications like first aid.

Cr Glenn Tozer.

Mr Dickson under questioning by Cr Crichlow recalled two other councillors in previous administrations who had received financial assistance for academic study.

“I think we should look at that first before saying no to it. It was under policy,” she said.

Cr Tate said the policy provided for $2600 but the request for expenditure was more than double that amount.

Cr Tozer when asked about costs said the Mayor was ‘incorrect’.

However, Cr Tate later provided a document outline a $6900 bill for a six-month period which proved he was correct/

Mr Dickson said Cr Tozer had flagged the question of the expense in 2015 and was advised it could be approved.

“The answer was”yes” — my decision,” he replied, adding that council could “change the policy at any point in time”.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture Glenn Hampson

Cr Tate’s motion was successful with Cr Owen-Jones, Peter Young, Cr Crichlow, Cr Bob La Castra and Cr Daphne McDonald voting against. Cr Baildon abstained from voting.

Outside the chamber, Cr Tozer said he did not believe he was “doing anything out the ordinary” and considered the course at a local university was of more value than taking some conference trips.

“The CEO approved the expenses, noting their relevance for consideration of council business, and business activities,” he said.

Cr Tate rejected this assertion, saying he had only uttered one word: “approved”.

Cr Tozer claimed the course was making him a more effective councillor.

“I am convinced this teaching makes me a better councillor, and makes me more informed with regard to council business, which serves the community well,” he said.

“In April 2016 and December 2016, I discussed this study at Bond University openly on my councillor Facebook page relating it to my work as councillor, for the interest of residents. I discuss it regularly with residents in person, on occasions they have asked.”

Cr Glenn Tozer.

Leaving the council chamber, and approaching the media, Cr Tozer was asked by a reporter if this was “payback” for his opposition to the Mayor’s pet projects like the cruise ship terminal.

“You will have to ask Mayor Tate is this is retribution or not,” he replied.

Today Cr Tate said in a statement that funding Cr Tozer’s study “did not pass the pub test’.

“This has nothing to do with Cr Tozer and everything to do with ensuring ratepayers’ funds are not wasted,” he said.

“Ratepayers forking out for a councillor to do an MBA doesn’t pass the pub test. Simple.

They are elected to get on with looking after their divisional issues.

Cr Tate said Cr Tozer may have told his constituents about the course, but he left a glaring omission from his post.

“He never mentioned that he was using ratepayer funds to pay for his personal study for his MBA,’’ he told The Bulletin.

“Any study they want to do to improve their ability to do that should be paid by them.

“In the pub, this would be known as a rort and the motion I put forward yesterday saved the ratepayer $50,000.’’