Operation Yabber report: Mayor Tom Tate hails findings of CCC probe as ‘terrific outcome’

A defiant Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed a bombshell CCC report into council, declaring the investigation a ‘colonoscopy’ from which he had been given a ‘clean bill of health.’

A defiant Mayor Tom Tate has “welcomed” a scathing report into the Gold Coast City Council.

The Crime and Corruption Commission this morning released its report on the council which put the spotlight on the mayor’s relationship with his Chief of Staff, Wayne Moran.

No criminal charges resulted from the CCC’s Operation Yabber, something Cr Tate highlighted several times during an 18-minute press conference at Evandale this afternoon.

Cr Tate said the report vindicated himself and the council and said it would have no impact on him contesting a third term at the March 28 election.

He also compared the investigation to a colonoscopy.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, at council chambers. Picture: Emily Halloran.

READ MORE

Daughter’s selfie stick among mayoral purchases

What Mayor Tate said to CCC

Bombshell CCC report released

“I have been asked to comment on operation Yabber-dabbler-doo and the way I look at it, it is a terrific outcome for the city of the Gold Coast,” he said.

“There is no systematic corruption found, whether its councillors, mayor, or officers. So this is a clean bill of health.

“The way I look at it, it has been a long time coming, nearly 18 months ... when you look at it now, I welcome the due diligence by the CCC and it is out there for all to see.”

Cr Tate defended spending in the mayoral office, including the purchases of selfie sticks, something he has been referred to the Office of independent Assessor over.

“I am confident that I have been referred to the OIA more than 60 times. I don’t have a batting average because they have all been dismissed,” he said.

“Am I confident of this? Yes, am I upset about this referral? No. It’s part of their job to refer to because it is beyond their scope of works.

“I do not see a drama. I didn’t buy a house next to the Cross-River Rail. It’s a selfie stick.”

Wayne Moran. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Cr Tate was questioned about his relationship with Mr Moran and asked why he moved to stop council CEO Dale Dickson’s investigation into Mr Moran.

“It is like this – in a family there is an argument and tussle between the two boys and father a while. And after a while when it stops being productive, you sort it out. If you need, act on it with evidence and do what you gotta do. But if you can’t I issue an instruction to say it is all over,” he said.

“For the betterment of the city we move on. I did it because I thought it was the best way forward.

“There is always a friction between the administration and the policy wing.”

Cr Tate confirmed he was still in contact with Mr Moran but said he did not know if he would return to his role at city hall.

“He is OK. We do not discuss matters,” he said.

Mr Moran will not be involved in his re-election campaign.

When asked if he would still run at the election, he said “I will have another crack” and compared himself to both pop stars Elton John and Taylor Swift.

“I reflect on Elton John’s song ‘I am standing, yeah, yeah yeah,” he said.

“Haters are gonna hate hate hate.”