Gold Coast Mayor’s chief of staff Wayne Moran’s part in internal council overhaul

The Mayor’s chief of staff took part in a major internal overhaul approved by council that included canning the committee which voted to expose his alleged conflicts of interest.

THE Mayor’s chief of staff took part in a major internal overhaul approved by council that included canning the committee which voted to expose his alleged conflicts of interest.

Documents obtained by the Bulletin confirm Wayne Moran launched reforms on council’s future economic direction, recommending at least seven branches or units in Economic Development and Major Projects (EDMP) be absorbed into other areas. “The positions listed ... in the report are made redundant and positions closed.”

OTHER NEWS

High-profile lawyer’s drink-driving arrest

‘Not true’: LNP candidate refutes blow-in claims

Teen’s alleged threat to bus driver

Among the casualties was the governance committee, and its chair William Owen-Jones, which recommended council CEO Dale Dickson assess the legality of mayoral directives.

Among the directives was Mayor Tom Tate ordering Mr Dickson to cease disciplinary action against Mr Moran’s refusal to declare a conflict of interest, and close the case.

Councillors passed the reforms the same day they voted to keep secret the bombshell mayoral order in relation to the chief of staff.

Wayne Moran has been Tom Tate’s chief of staff for several years. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mayor Tate insists the reforms were about securing value for ratepayers, and reducing committee meetings.

The Bulletin approached Mr Moran for comment. He is facing an internal council probe.

After the release of a 84-page Crime and Corruption Commission report last Friday, clearing him of any criminal charges, he told the Bulletin: “I’m pleased and not surprised that the CCC have confirmed no corruption nor anything criminal on my part. I was never in any doubt of that outcome.

“I will not be commenting on the remaining ­employment-related allegations as I do not wish to constrain any future legal action I will be taking.”

The Bulletin has learnt that an Economic Development and Major Projects Working Review Group signed off on the reforms about a month before the December 2017 vote on the mayoral directives.

Group members listed were Mayor Tate and councillors Donna Gates, Cameron Caldwell, Gary Baildon, Hermann Vorster, Pauline Young and Gail O’Neill.

Several council sources said CEO Dale Dickson questioned why the substantial reforms were being undertaken by the mayoral office and not by his experienced officers, given it was the role of the administration.

The EDMP recommendation was “that the governance and administration committee is removed, redistributing all of its committee areas of responsibilities to the newly created events, tourism and governance committee”. Cr Owen-Jones lost his committee chair role.

Outside the council chamber, a distressed councillor told a colleague: “This is a f...ing disgrace today.”

The Bulletin this week asked Mayor Tate why was the governance committee had been abolished and was it related to the mayoral directives.

“The governance committee was incorporated into the events, tourism and governance committee as part of the overall restructure of council directorates and committees, as per council resolution,” Cr Tate said.

“Holding less committee meetings ensures there is less time being spent by officers at committee which is value for money. It has worked exceptionally well and is a better use of ratepayers’ funds.

Gold Coast Council CEO Dale Dickson. Photo: Jerad Williams

“I campaigned that I would reduce the eight directorates to five, naturally this also impacts the committee framework.”

An 84-page report by the Crime and Corruption Commission on Friday found Mr Dickson conducted a “long process” between 2013-15 to get Mr Moran to declare conflicts of interest.

No criminal charges will be laid from the CCC’s Operation Yabber. However, Cr Tate has been referred to the Office of the Independent Assessor for alleged misconduct after blocking a disciplinary investigation into his chief of staff.

OTHER NEWS

Police car rammed at Coast shopping centre

Popular riverfront tavern put up for sale

Beloved park wrecked by hoons after reopening

Cr Tate has denied any wrong doing or inappropriate conduct.

The State corruption watchdog found evidence that Mr Moran had contacted department areas and wanted to know about developments or arrange meetings with the development consultant, himself and a council planner.

Exposing an explosive email trail, the CCC found a company director used his relationship with Mr Moran to obtain benefits for clients as the pair prepared for a jet-­skiing trip in the Whitsundays.

In one exchange, Mr Moran is accused of replying to the request of the company director: “Write the guts of what you want in the Ltr (sic) and I’ll get the Mayor to sign this week before he goes.” On Sunday, the Bulletin asked Cr Tate if it happened. He declined to comment.

The CCC report also found:

● An email Mr Moran drafted under Cr Tate’s signature block on April 7, 2017, urging the CEO not to include previous employers under the conflicts of interest policy. There is no evidence to suggest the letter was sent.

● Evidence that Company A placed a close relative of Mr Moran’s at the company as part of an academic program, and sent congratulatory emails to Mr Moran in relation to this work experience placement.

● In one exchange, the Company A director was not happy with council’s response and needed an intervention otherwise there would be significant delays and potential financial detriment.

At a press conference on Friday, Cr Tate said he had no knowledge of Mr Moran’s alleged conflicts of interest and intervened between Mr Dickson and Mr Moran “for the betterment of the city”.

On Sunday, when asked what information he had before he made the mayoral direction and the basis for which he chose to side with Mr Moran, Cr Tate declined to comment.