Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate versus Federal Minister Steven Ciobo heats up

THE verbal feud between the Gold Coast’s sole Federal Minister Steven Ciobo and Mayor Tom Tate has reached another level, with Cr Tate’s bizarre response to the feud leaving Mr Ciobo perplexed.

THE Gold Coast’s sole Federal Minister Steven Ciobo claims Mayor Tom Tate has “absolutely let power go to his head” as their bitter feud continues.

In a curt response to Mr Ciobo’s latest blast, Cr Tate was brief calling him a “beautiful man”.

Mr Ciobo last week verbally attacked Cr Tate for being “at war with everyone” and questioning if it was in the city’s interest.

Mr Ciobo, who originally endorsed Cr Tate’s original run for Mayor two terms ago, was asked yesterday about what had changed and said: “I have been a public figure for 17 years. People know what they are getting with me. I have been consistent throughout.

Gold Coast-based Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo: “I have been a public figure for 17 years. People know what they are getting with me. I have been consistent throughout.” (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

“What has changed is Tom Tate has gotten elected and absolutely let power go to his head.

Tom Tate as Mayor is very different to the Tom Tate he used to be,” Mr Ciobo claimed.

Asked if he had changed while Mayor and let power go to his head as Mr Ciobo claimed, Cr Tate’s response last night was: “He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.”

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Mr Ciobo: “Tom Tate has gotten elected and absolutely let power go to his head. Tom Tate as Mayor is very different to the Tom Tate he used to be.” Picture Gary Ramage

It left Mr Ciobo perplexed: “What does that even mean?”

The verbal feud kicked off last week when Cr Tate penned a strong opinion piece in the Bulletin, advising state and federal leaders to “take us seriously” and querying if Brisbane powerbrokers saw the Gold Coast as a “serious voice”.

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate responds to Mr Ciobo’s latest verbal spray: “He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.” Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

It prompted Mr Ciobo to say Cr Tate had “declared war” on State and Federal government, and seemed to be at war with various ratepayer groups, some of his own councillors and fellow southeast Queensland councils.

Cr Tate hit back declaring he’d be judged at the 2020 election and would continue to put the city before politics.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate meets Prince Charles as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk looks on at the Commonwealth Games. Mr Ciobo has accused Cr Tate of being “at war with everyone”. (Photo by Darren England — Pool/Getty Images)

Mr Ciobo yesterday told the Bulletin he was incredibly proud of the “billions” he had helped the Coalition in Canberra deliver for the Gold Coast including $1.2b in M1 funding, record money for tourism and small business backing.

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“What matters more than talking big is delivering big. Tom Tate unfortunately is big on announcement but very poor on follow through,” Mr Ciobo said.

Rebecca Frizelle and Mayor Tom Tate at opening of Gold Coast Isuzu, Arundel. Last week Ms Frizelle defended the Mayor saying there was no doubt he had the city’s interests at heart. Picture: Regina King.

“For years we have been hearing about this cruise ship terminal which has gotten nowhere.

We have been hearing about a casino, and new ventures which have gotten nowhere.

“I will always fight for my constituents. I have delivered for them but I have one obligation — to defend how the Coalition have delivered for our city,” Mr Ciobo said.

Last week, Gold Coast business titan Rebecca Frizelle said there was no doubt Cr Tate had the city’s interests at heart and “consistently delivered strong economic and overall growth opportunities”.