Gold Coast councillors want more overseas trips as part of transition to future new mayor

It’s a rare situation – a councillor gets to go on overseas business travel. It’s put the spotlight on “what next” after Tom Tate retires.

It’s a rare situation and caused a lot of political drama – a councillor gets an overseas business travel trip. Glenn Tozer is to go to the US on a gridiron sporting mission.

This request has divided councillors, and in the bigger picture shone a stadium-sized light on a more critical question – who represents the City when Tom Tate is no longer Mayor?

Councillors at full council on Tuesday approved Mr Tozer going to the United States and United Kingdom to attend the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific USA Mission next month.

The vote was 12-3 with Deputy Mayor Donna Gates and councillors Naomi Fowler and Dan Doran in the opposition side.

The cost is $18,737. Mr Tozer offered to fly economy. He is entitled to business class.

Mr Tozer and a senior officer had been invited by the American proponent after relationships were built up during the recent NFL Oceania HQ negotiations to establish a base here.

Cr Glenn Tozer with Mayor Tom Tate as the new Gold Coast City Council is sworn in at Council Chambers in Bundall. Picture: Glenn Campbell

City CEO Tim Baker could sign off on it but decided it should be debated by councillors.

“Given that this is, I think everyone would agree, a fairly unique request from the councillor, I determined it was better, again in conversations with the mayor’s office, that it would be better that we brought it here to have the decision,” Mr Baker told councillors.

The councillor discussions, in open session, were “awkward”, not far off from a helmet-to-helmet collision which invokes a penalty in the American game.

The travel policy is to be “tweaked”. Other councillors like Mark Hammel are expected to fly out soon on a fact finding mission on the north’s billion-dollar planned green waste plant.

Mr Tate told councillors: “I’m not here to try to hog the travel.” He cannot make this trip and supported them taking travel as part of “educational” development.

But he was equally clear about himself being the only advocate for the city so one message was being sent on these trips.

“My view when it comes to advocacy, you’ve gotta come through me,” he said.

If others wanted to do advocacy, he added: “Well I’ll relax and stay at home, because it’s bloody hard work, right.”

In the councillor ranks, there is a strong view Mr Tate will not pursue a fifth term in office. These younger councillors also believe the Deputy Mayor will also retire.

Tom Tate and Donna Gates are the City’s most recognisable political faces. Councillors want to educate themselves about advocating now, build their knowledge and profiles.

Tom Tate and Donna Gates at the Gold Coast Pacific Airshow 2024, Experience Gold Coast Chalet, at Surfers Paradise Beach for Gold Coast at Large. Picture, Portia Large.

“If Tom does finish up this term, we will all be in the dark. There has to be a transition to other councillors,” a council insider says.

“The only way you can learn is to get out and learn it. Councils all over Australia are sending councillors on trade missions.

“Tom runs a very tight shop, in terms of involving other people. We will be compelled to appoint him (for his inside knowledge) as a consultant when he leaves.”

One of the biggest stories of this new council will the transition from the Tate administration. It’s will be like watching an NFL scrimmage, really.

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