Speak up: Mayor Tom Tate’s challenge to councillors furious about lead-up to $600,000 CEO contract signing

A leading Gold Coast identity has challenged colleagues to speak up about a recent appointment whom he believes has been subjected to a “witch hunt”. READ THE FULL REPORT

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MAYOR Tom Tate has challenged councillors to speak up about the appointment of new CEO David Edwards whom he believes has been subjected to a “witch hunt”.

Several city councillors were furious with Councillor Tate after not being updated on misconduct findings against Mr Edwards after they voted 14-1 to approve his appointment, ending an 18-year reign by Dale Dickson.

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The appointment of David Edwards made behind closed doors. Pic by Richard Gosling.

But some councillors, aware the city’s new administration boss had begun working behind the scenes, were reluctant to raise the issue even behind closed doors at Tuesday’s full council meeting.

Outside the meeting, the Mayor said: “Well get ’em out here and say I’m one of the ones. We’ve just had a full council meeting, right. There was a Question on Notice. I didn’t hear one (question).”

Only Councillor Peter Young voted against the appointment, but Cr Glenn Tozer last Friday expressed public concerns about not being told of the findings. He has since been satisfied with information provided to him.

Cr Tozer had sought clarification on the issue, calling the Mayor’s office and speaking with a senior staffer.

“I raised my concerns quite appropriately with the Office of the Mayor and was provided with a comprehensive overview of the circumstances and the involvement of the City Solicitor,” he said.

“And I was satisfied that the information provided by senior officer cleared up my reservations.”

The Mayor confirmed the timeline of events where Mr Edwards informed him, after the vote when his $600,000-plus contract was being finalised, of misconduct findings.

A departmental investigation found Mr Edwards had failed to manage and disclose an actual or potential conflict of interest with private industry executives.

But Mr Edwards believes he was denied natural justice and has threatened defamation action against a “small group of bureaucrats”.

“I’m aware of the whole scenario. I discharged my duty, the vote is 14-1. If you want to go right down to some Brisbane bureaucrats stirring up defamation stuff, you will never employ anyone. I wouldn’t be mayor of the city,” Cr Tate said.

Mayor Tom Tate — defending his role. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

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“If you know the detail of the misconduct, it is a witch hunt. I reviewed it, I’ve had the city solicitor review it, you look at one of those (claims) and you go “you know what, it’s rubbish”.”

Cr Tate said he could not pass the information on because it was confidential.

“It’s confidential information, how can I pass it on, it’s confidential I would be in breach. I have a council resolution in front (of me to negotiate the contract), I’ve looked at it,” he said.

“For me to take seriously a Brisbane bureaucrat for stirring this up, for whatever reason, it’s way out of proportion. I reviewed there is nothing in this.”

“You look at the information, and you go, well that as far as it’s — I’m trying to choose my words carefully, because this defamation will be going around — it’s quite minor,” the Mayor said.

Cr Tate said he had reflected on references from deputy premiers and ministers for Mr Edwards and “98 per cent of it was glowing”.

Asked if was likely the leaking of the misconduct findings would lead to an complaint with authorities, the Mayor replied: “Look, in our society, anyone can complain but I won’t be. Because through this process, this has been exemplary. Matter of fact as a council we are very proud of the attraction of high quality CEO and really I’m looking forward to working with David.”

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SEVERAL city councillors are furious with Mayor Tom Tate after not being updated on misconduct findings against top bureaucrat David Edwards during his contract talks for the CEO’s position.

After councillors voted 14-1 to approve the Mayor negotiating the $600,000-plus contract, Mr Edwards told the mayor about a departmental investigation which found he had failed to manage and disclose an actual or potential conflict of interest with private industry executives.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to be questioned by councillors. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

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Mr Edwards maintains he has been targeted by a “small group of senior public servants” and their comments were “both disappointing and defamatory and I will be considering my legal options”.

The Bulletin understands councillors at a full council meeting on Tuesday plan to discuss the sequence of events with Councillor Tate where he made the “captain’s call”.

“The Mayor failed to disclose to the councillors the misconduct findings,” a council source said.

Gold Coast City Council CEO David Edwards

Another council insider told the Bulletin a majority of councillors had expressed “disappointment” about the complaint not being brought back to the council chambers for discussions. Several were furious with the Mayor.

“Councillors have been briefed informally over the issue and emailed since the incident,” the council insider said.

“You could say a majority are disappointed the matter was not brought back for discussion. It’s not the first time the Mayor made a call without councillor consent.”

The Bulletin understands the leaking of the material involving Mr Edwards, alleged to have involved Brisbane-based bureaucrats, could now become a separate complaint to authorities.

Councillors in open session at the full council meeting are likely to seek an update on the new CEO, but because it involves a staffing matter these issues will be debated in closed session.

The Bulletin has asked Cr Tate why a “captain’s call” was made and councillors not alerted to the departmental investigations involving Mr Edwards.

Cr Tate in a response said “no comment”. But a source suggested the Mayor could argue he was given the authority, in a super-majority vote of councillors, to negotiate the CEO’s contract.

The staffing matter is likely to be heard behind closed doors. Pic by Richard Gosling

Mayor Tate in a previous statement to the Bulletin said: “These matters were fully disclosed to me before the execution of the contract. Having been fully briefed, and given access to relevant documents relating to these matters, it was clear to me that they had effectively been resolved and I had no hesitation, having regard to the nature of matters, concluding the contract with Mr Edwards.”

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, after being contacted by ABC radio 91.7 on Friday, confirmed he was not made aware of the investigation of Mr Edwards by the State department.

“It wasn’t disclosed to me. I wasn’t made aware of them (the matters) prior to the resolution that I participated in (to approve his selection as CEO),” Cr Tozer said.

The Mudgeeraba councillor admitted he would have “definitely considered it’ if given the information during the voting process for candidates but “I didn’t have a chance to”.