WE’LL DIVE IN
EXCLUSIVE: Tate calls Jones’ bluff on her $8 million for dive site with funding pledge
TOM Tate has told the State Government to commit its $8 million to a dive site on the Gold Coast and let him sort it out.
The Mayor has guaranteed to meet the bill for the underwater attraction if Tourism Minister Kate Jones stumps up the State Government money, as promised.
Mayor Tate yesterday intervened in the feud between Ms Jones and Federal MP Stuart Robert, saying: “I believe in Stuart Robert and urge Minister Jones to complete the EOI (express of interest).
“If her concern is the dive site project will cost more than $10 million, I commit to finding any additional funds over and above the State’s commitment of $8 million. Let’s get on with it and make this work.”
TOM Tate has told the State Government to commit its $8 million to a dive site on the Gold Coast and let him sort it out.
The Gold Coast Mayor has guaranteed to meet the bill for the underwater attraction if Tourism Minister Kate Jones stumps up the State Government money, as promised.
Mayor Tate yesterday intervened in the feud between Ms Jones and Federal MP Stuart Robert, saying “I believe in Stuart Robert and urge Minister Jones to complete the EOI (express of interest).
“If her concern is the dive site project will cost more than $10 million, I commit to finding any additional funds over and above the State’s commitment of $8 million. Let’s get on with it and make this work.”
Relations between Canberra and Brisbane plunged over the dive site this month when Mr Robert discovered the Queensland Government had written to the Ministry of Defence in January to say it was not interested in bidding for one of three frigates – the
HMAS Darwin, Newcastle or
Melbourne.
Ms Jones said the cost of scuttling the ships off the Queensland coast would be more than $30 million – potentially three times the cost of ex-HMAS Tobruk.
Mr Robert said the figure was “absolute crap” and would be done for about $10 million.
Mr Robert wrote to Ms Jones last Friday and asked her to sign an EOI. He said she had not replied to the letter.
“It is ridiculous, she is ducking and weaving and hiding,” Mr Robert told the Bulletin yesterday.
“I know what it costs. This isn’t the first time they have negotiated for a warship.”
Ms Jones said she would not “hand over a blank cheque” and wanted proof of price before funding was committed.
“It would be foolish for me to hand over a blank cheque to the Federal Government without any detail about the costs which is what Stuart is asking for.”
Ms Jones said she was not interested in having a “war of words with Stuart Robert in the media because that does nothing for the people of the Gold Coast”.
“I’m interested in delivering new tourism experiences on the Gold Coast and ensuring value for taxpayers,” she said.