Revealed: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate employs spiritual adviser on mayoral staff and creates prayer room to unite religions
Gold Coast Bulletin readers have responded in both awe and disbelief to the addition of a spiritual adviser to Mayor Tom Tate’s staff.
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Gold Coast Bulletin readers have responded in both awe and disbelief to the addition of a spiritual adviser to Mayor Tom Tate’s staff.
The Gold Coast Mayor has added a spiritual adviser and a prayer room inside City Hall, the Bulletin revealed on Saturday. The move has sparked division among councillors and staff who felt blindsided by it.
Councillors were made aware of it after spotting a “prayer room” sign on their way to lunch.
Hundreds of Bulletin readers voiced opinions on the spiritual adviser addition, which Mr Tate has explained as a bid to unite city religious groups, help with homelessless, coordinate flood relief amongst churches and also aid drug and alcohol abuse support.
“I think us ratepayers are paying more than enough and I’m sure he has more than enough money to pay for himself,” Cathy Marie commented.
Another reader said they supported it if the services would be open to all free of charge.
While another said: “Absolutely not, you know I think there is something to be said for restricting the length of time people can be in these jobs. Seems the longer they are their the more entitled an grandiose they become.”
Some residents said they did not see a problem in Cr Tate’s religion being respected in a public place.
“Why is Christianity any different?” Britt-Astrid Gabrielsen asked.
David Ryan commented: “I’ve seen worse. Back before his time, the Council paid $400,000 in one year to bring a personal trainer up from Melbourne regularly to run sessions for staff. I guess this Melbourne based PT must have been better than every PT on the Gold Coast.”
A council insider told the Bulletin on Saturday: “I think everyone is interested in the staff the mayor has working in his office, their functions.
“We understand most of them. We don’t understand what this role is.”
Other sources revealed questions were being asked about how much money is being spent on the room.
‘WE DON’T UNDERSTAND’: FURY OVER MAYOR’S PRAYER ROOM, SPIRITUAL ADVISOR
Tom Tate’s employment of a spiritual adviser on his mayoral staff and creation a prayer room inside City Hall is dividing councillors and staff, saying they were blindsided.
Mayor Tate has explained the appointment and new room as part of a bid to unite religious groups across the city, helping with homelessness, flood relief efforts plus drug and alcohol abuse support.
Some councillors first saw the sign “prayer room” as they made their way out of the chambers after a full council meeting earlier this week to have lunch.
“I think everyone is interested in the staff the mayor has working in his office, their functions,” a council insider said.
“We understand most of them. We don’t understand what this role is.”
Another council source said: “The councillors saw a sign with prayer room. There’s frosted glass with the wording on it. Under the mayor’s entitlements for his office, he is entitled to a certain number of staff with so many advisers. Questions are being asked on who authorised this and how much money is being spent on it.”
The Bulletin has been told Pastor Sue Baynes about a month ago was employed on a casual basis as a “pastoral adviser” and the room – on the ground floor opposite the chamber – was now available for all religious groups.
Cr Tate told the Bulletin: “Like other rooms set aside across council offices, this is available to all staff and all religions. Any staff member can use the room for prayer.
“My office has written to around 200 faith-based community groups, making them aware of the space. It can be booked by community groups at no charge.
“Importantly, it is a better value-for-money outcome for ratepayers than the cost of hosting my
Mayor’s Pastor Roundtable that has been taking place in the Chamber for several years.”
The Pastor Roundtable was a regular meeting of city church leaders at council chambers.
Councillor Tate has strongly defended the appointment of Ms Baynes with her work schedule showing she was meeting with all church groups to stage a flood relief response, help the homeless and give co-ordinated drug and alcohol abuse support across the city.
“State legislation allows mayors to appoint councillor advisers to their office and that is what I have done,” he said.
“It is a casual position and has not added additional staff numbers, or cost, to my office as there was a vacant position. The Office CEO was advised in February.”
Asked how the prayer room was created and its future use, the Mayor said: “The space now set aside as a Prayer Room was vacant and had been for many months. It was used as a storage facility.
“Council has also established an area adjacent to assist visiting families who may need space for young children, including breastfeeding mothers. The entire conversion of the vacant space cost around $2000. Councillors are welcome to use the space.”
When asked why councillors were not informed about the prayer room, Cr Tate said they could raise the issue with him.
“Similar with other staff and community meeting spaces across our other administrative buildings, there is no need to advise councillors. As with any issue, if a councillor has any concerns, my door is always open,” he said.
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