Gold Coast council election 2020: Mayor Tom Tate unveils plans to attack coronavirus pandemic

Third-term Mayor Tom Tate will today start to “pull apart the budget” to fund a coronavirus relief and recovery package. He reveals how he plans to get the economy back on track.

THIRD-TERM Mayor Tom Tate will today start to “pull apart the budget” to fund a coronavirus relief and recovery package.

He will meet with council CEO Dale Dickson this morning to analyse the state of the city’s finances and what new measures could be brought into effect quickly.

“This will be the biggest challenge not just for me but for all elected councillors and our city,” he said last night.

“It is unprecedented through Australia and my attitude is we can come together.

Mayor Tom Tate at Evandale yesterday. He’s rolling up his sleeves and ready to take on the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Previously we’ve gone through the budget line by line, this time it will be letter by letter. I will not be waiting for special budget, I will be pulling it apart straightaway to see if there is implementation which needs to be done and I’ll be speaking with the administration to keep it going.”

At the weekend, Cr Tate made history as the first Coast mayor to be elected to a third consecutive term. Last night, with nearly 37 per cent of the vote counted, he had 74,650 votes, or a 56.58 per cent share.

He vanquished challenger Mona Hecke who received 29,304 votes, or 22.21 per cent.

Southport businessman Brett Lambert was third, with 6.57 per cent of the vote.

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Mayor Tom Tate and Mayoress Ruth Tate were somber yesterday as the city faces the economic wrath of COVID-19. Picture: Mike Batterham

So far, 10,599 informal votes were cast, about 7.4 per cent.

At the 2016 election the total informal vote was 15,050, or 5.27 per cent.

Cr Tate urged his new colleagues to work together to face the coronavirus crisis and said there were several measures he had in mind, including bringing forward major projects to create jobs.

He also intends to emulate one of his political idols, former Gold Coast mayor Sir Bruce Small and dial up promotion of the city after the crisis ebbs.

“To elected councillors, we need to put the needs of the city above any personality,” he said. “We are the small business capital and tourist capital and I know we will stand together as a united community.

“Once this is all over I will put my promotional hat back on and boost our city around Australia and see what kind of investment which may wish to come here to the Coast.

“The next challenge will be the 2020-21 budget and it is my intention to deliver a no-increase fee freeze and levy freeze budget.

“I will also bring forward major infrastructure projects and raise any opportunity for joint ventures through public private partnerships.”

Mayoral candidate Mona Hecke on Election Day. (Photos: Steve Holland)

The new council will be sworn in next month once the election result is declared.

This is not expected for at least a week.

Ms Hecke last night was still yet to concede defeat.

She yesterday thanked supporters but admitted she was “gobsmacked” by the result.

“It has been staggering, it’s an understatement, to see some of the percentages coming through,” she said.

“I was obviously surprised as the rest of you, I am gobsmacked by some people’s thought processes and their voting preferences is really interesting, but let’s keep watching the count.

“I know many of you will be extremely disappointed in seeing some of these percentages coming through because it absolutely is disappointing.”