Mayor Tom Tate criticised by community leaders after not consulting about Hanoi visit

Community leaders are critical of Mayor Tom Tate taking a business associate to meet senior Vietnam officials. The mayor says you don’t want to be the “only shag on a rock”. Latest.

Community leaders have lashed out at Mayor Tom Tate saying he should have consulted with councillors before taking a business associate to meet with senior Vietnam officials.

The Bulletin in an exclusive report on Thursday revealed the third-term mayor organised a mayoral meeting in Hanoi — while on annual leave — with high profile Surfers Paradise real estate agent Roland Evans.

The Bulletin is not suggested any wrong doing by Mr Tate or Mr Evans with both men saying their trips were privately funded.

Community Alliance leader John Hicks said his group was concerned to learn Mr Tate had not discussed the trip with councillors nor made it public previously on meeting reports.

“The optics surrounding the reported meetings with several senior Vietnamese officials while on a private holiday in Vietnam in December are just plain wrong,” Mr Hicks said.

“These meetings were apparently undertaken without prior consultation with other councillors, while on official leave and accompanied by a personal friend.”

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Tran Sy Thanh (fifth from left) and Mayor of Gold Coast Tom Tate (fourth from left) pose for a group photo with other delegates. Picture: hanoimoi.com.vn

Mr Tate at a media conference on Thursday, when asked, said neither himself or Mr Evans conducted any private business. He strongly rejected that it was a “bad look”.

But Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan agreed with concerns raised by Mr Hicks.

“The mayor’s ‘private’ visit to Hanoi would have been less of a concern had he not been accompanied by a high profile real estate agent,” she said.

Asked about the trip, the Mayor said: “No, there was no private business. I can’t switch off being mayor of the Gold Coast and not mayor of the Gold Coast. It doesn’t matter where I am.”

The trip was a chance to “build up further relationships with the chairman of the party”.

“In the past 12 months have a look at how much investment from Vietnam has come through to the Gold Coast, and then have a look in the next 18 months how many investments will happen there,” Mr Tate said.

“When a Mayor goes there they know you are welcoming them with open arms, we are open for business especially for Vietnamese business.”

Mr Tate for the first time explained his decision to take Mr Evans to the meetings.

“He went over there — I mean I would say that he has got his friends and contacts. But when I know we are going to be there at the same time, it doesn’t matter if it is Mr Evans or who else,” he said.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate with Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Tran Sy Thanh (right). Picture: hanoimoi.com.vn

“If I am by myself, when you are meeting another Asian mayor or chairman, it’s best not to look like you are the only shag on a rock. Numbers build up credibility to it.

“Like I say, I’ve been doing this since 2012. First term, I did private travel for about $100,000 worth on behalf of the city. My money. This one did not cost the city any dollars. We get a gain out of it. Beautiful.”

But Mr Hicks believes those people attending official meetings should be elected representatives or staff only.

President of the Community Alliance, John Hicks. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“What has been reported appears to be the opposite of good governance principles about how such international meetings should be conducted. These principles exist for good reason,” he said.

“They are there to give the community confidence that all council decision-making is in the wider public interest.”

Mr Hicks encouraged councillors with concerns to “to raise and address those issues through the formal channels available to them”.

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