Councillor urges colleagues to stop the bloodletting

GOLD Coast councillor has called for a truce to infighting and name calling as the Mayor seeks legal action over the elections donations saga.

Mayor Tom Tate plans defamation action against the ABC and Cr Peter Young after Monday’s Four Corners report.

“Can’t comment further, let’s test it in court,” Cr Tate said.

The legal threat is the latest salvo in a war of words between city leaders. Yesterday, the Bulletin reported Cr Tate had asked the Integrity Commission to investigate Cr Young’s business dealings.

Cr Young, an outspoken critic of the present council’s style, rejected the claims, said the Mayor had a “glass jaw” and he would not back down.

“My focus remains legislative reform for the benefit of the city, rather than Tate’s diversions,” he said yesterday.

“I never mentioned any individual in the Four Corners program. Despite repeated personal attacks by him and (Deputy Mayor) Gates, I have maintained a focus on the big issue (glass jaw being an exception).”

Cr Tate said Cr Young was still “smarting” from his failed 2012 mayoral campaign.

Cr Tate said ongoing name calling was “childish”.

“It is a bit like that movie Rambo: First Blood – I was minding my own business, doing my best for the city and they come and smear me. I have to respond but do I need to respond further? No, I’ll let them dig their own (graves).”

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer called for calm and urged colleagues to make peace for the good of the city.

“Elected representatives should refrain from name calling and conduct themselves professionally, dealing with the issues. That is what the public expects us to do,” he said.

Cr Tozer, a critic of the Mayor’s proposed cruise ship terminal, took issue with Cr Tate’s stating “negative people need to take positive pills”.

“I stand by my comments about the oceanside cruise jetty and when the public and other professionals have the chance to read the unredacted feasibility report I am confident the public will see why I voted the way I did. There are better ideas, projects our city could be advancing,” he said.

Gold Coast property guru and former councillor Max Christmas said he had no problem with the Mayor slinging back verbal volleys at critics.

“He’s got to defend himself as being on the proper side of life. Honestly, he has the interests of the city at heart.”