Revealed: The truth about whether the Coast council is a ‘boys club’ where councillors are ‘muzzled’

According to under-fire councillor Brooke Patterson’s social media, she’s a victim of a ‘boys club’. Is anyone buying that?

Councillor Brooke Patterson’s Facebook posts have ignited a community debate. She says she has been “muzzled”. Her supporters now believe she is the target of “a boys club”.

Read the comments on her page - on there, it’s all about Ms Patterson fighting the good fight and holding bureaucratic “pen pushers” at City Hall to account.

If this narrative is true, the logic might suggest her colleagues are failing in their duties.

A council insider says: “The way she’s putting across her story you’d think the rest of the councillors are doing nothing, not pushing boundaries. They’re doing it respectfully. They know the vast majority of officers have a genuine interest in making the city better.”

But Ms Patterson’s supporters are waving the flag.

“Brooke, you are AMAZING (sic) – you have so much support from the community. Stay strong,” a female resident wrote. She added a pumped up bicep emoji.

Gold Coast City Council governance chair Brooke Patterson (pictured left). CEO Tim Baker (pictured right).

Ms Patterson has had 11 complaints from staffers. In a letter, CEO Tim Baker said the alleged conduct included aggressive language and it “posed both potential and actual health and safety risk”.

The complaints have been referred to the council watchdog, the Office of the Independent Assessor. No findings have been made against Ms Patterson and she denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Baker from an HR perspective arranged for workable boundaries to ensure ongoing communication between staffers and the councillor.

On her page, he has been accused of “attempting to muzzle an elected representative” – and removing “seasoned senior executives who refused to be yes men”. A resident also asks Ms Patterson was one of her new colleagues “lost to the boys club”. The Bulletin cops criticism for its coverage on the page too.

So to begin – Mr Baker was employed to overhaul the administration to save ratepayer money. Many managers now gone had sat in the same chairs for decades. A club of sorts?

The City’s new CEO is from Tasmania. Has he employed mates? No.

And I can report he’s the only person, in the chambers in my recent conversations, who has referenced cricketer David Boon – and with reverence. But I have not seen Boony, one of Tasmania’s favourite sons, around these parts recently or being employed by the administration.

Is everything perfect? No, there’s been the poo show with the sewer leak in the Albert River.

– Mr Baker had to front that and sort that out.

New CEO Tim Baker. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Are he and Mayor Tom Tate in a “boys club”? From everything I’ve seen, no.

In the administration there’s an extremely qualified senior female manager spearheading the City’s biggest project with the northern waste and recycling centre.

Another younger female colleague, universally respected, heads up planning. Mr Baker’s chief financial officer, again another female, has a truckload of degrees and experience.

Donna Gates is currently acting Mayor. Ms Patterson wanted and was promoted to governance chair by Mayor Tom Tate. Some “boys club”.

Finally, on our coverage being criticised. Ms Patterson had posted the ‘Behave Brooke’ headline from our front page. A older bloke wrote. “Bulletin. Too thick to use as toilet paper and I don’t have a budgie.”

That much is true. I would also caution anyone trying to use a rolled up Saturday paper for a toiletry aid. Same for Friday as well, just as thick with this column inside it.

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Originally published as Revealed: The truth about whether the Coast council is a ‘boys club’ where councillors are ‘muzzled’