Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate claims Steven Ciobo about ‘advancing himself not city’

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has let rip at his former political ally and the city’s leading Federal MP Steven Ciobo in the latest salvo between the warring pair.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate says he has little time for the city’s leading Federal MP Steve Ciobo, claiming he’s driven by self-interest in the latest round of their war of words.

Mr Ciobo this week resigned his post as Federal Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment this week during the leadership upheaval in Canberra.

Asked this morning how he would feel if Mr Ciobo was elevated to deputy of the Liberal party, Cr Tate said: “Here he is, the Minister for Tourism, which is something you can influence for the Gold Coast. But oh no, let’s trash that, resign and have a crack at being deputy.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate fires a salvo at Federal MP Steven Ciobo this morning: “Here he is, the Minister for Tourism, which is something you can influence for the Gold Coast. But oh no, let’s trash that, resign and have a crack at being deputy.” Picture: Adam Head

“It’s about how he can advance himself not the Gold Coast,” Cr Tate said.

“Do I have much time for that sort of attitude? No.”

As it stands, several hours after Cr Tate’s comments, Mr Ciobo was pipped in the race for the Liberal Party deputy position by Josh Frydenberg.

Cr Tate’s biting critique comes after the former political allies started trading verbal volleys the past fortnight.

Mr Ciobo last week told the Bulletin Cr Tate seemed to be “at war” with everyone from his Federal Coalition government and Labor’s State Government to some of his councillors plus city ratepayer and community groups.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Gold Mayor Tom Tate at today’s launch of the Star Gold Coast’s new Dorsett hotel tower, the third for the Broadbeach island site. Cr Tate rejected the suggestion he was “at war” with the Premier’s State Government. Picture: Adam Head

Last week Mr Ciobo also claimed Cr Tate — who he originally endorsed for Mayor two terms ago — had “absolutely let power go to his head”.

At the sod turning of Star Gold Coast’s new $400m, 53-storey Dorsett hotel project this morning while standing alongside Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Cr Tate told the Bulletin he rejected the suggestion he was “at war” with her government.

“The Palaszczuk Government and City of Gold Coast has been working hand in glove to deliver,” Cr Tate said.

Gold Coast-based Federal MP Steven Ciobo in Parliament House Canberra. Picture Gary Ramage

“The Premier or any of her Cabinet Ministers, we are on the phone every second day.

“(Mr Ciobo) is a beautiful, beautiful man, he’s just got bad judgment,” Cr Tate said.

The Bulletin has asked Mr Ciobo for a response.

Last week, after claiming power had gone to Cr Tate’s head, Mr Ciobo said he was proud of the “billions” he had helped the Federal Coalition deliver for the Gold Coast including $1.2b in M1 funding, record money for tourism and small business backing.