CIOBLOW 2: ‘POWER GONE TO HIS HEAD’
LAST week the city’s sole Federal Minister Steve Ciobo accused Mayor Tom Tate of being “at war with everyone”.
Yesterday, Mr Ciobo – who originally endorsed Cr Tate’s run for mayor two terms ago – fuelled their bitter feud by claiming Cr Tate had changed and “absolutely let power go to his head”.
In a curt response, Cr Tate said: “He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.”
It left Mr Ciobo confused: “What does that even mean?
“What matters more than talking big is delivering big. Tom Tate unfortuntely is big on announcements but very poor on follow through.
“For years we have been hearing about this cruise ship terminal which has gotten nowhere. We have been hearing about a casino, and new ventures which have gotten nowhere.”
THE Gold Coast’s sole Federal Minister Steve Ciobo claims Mayor Tom Tate has “absolutely let power go to his head” as their bitter feud continues.
In a curt response to Mr Ciobo’s latest blast, Cr Tate was brief calling him a “beautiful man”.
Mr Ciobo last week blasted Cr Tate for being “at war with everyone” and questioning if it was in the city’s interest.
Mr Ciobo, who originally endorsed Cr Tate’s original run for Mayor two terms ago, was asked yesterday about what had changed and said: “I have been a public figure for 17 years. People know what they are getting with me. I have been consistent throughout.
“What has changed is Tom Tate has gotten elected and absolutely let power go to his head. Tom Tate as Mayor is very different to the Tom Tate he used to be.”
Asked if he had changed whilst Mayor and let power go to his head as Mr Ciobo claimed, Cr Tate’s response last night was: “He’s a beautiful, beautiful man.”
It left Mr Ciobo perplexed: “What does that even mean?”
The verbal feud kicked off last week when Cr Tate penned a strong opinion piece in the Bulletin, advising state and federal leaders to “take us seriously” and querying if Brisbane powerbrokers saw the Gold Coast as a “serious voice”.
It prompted Mr Ciobo to say Cr Tate had “declared war” on State and Federal government, and seemed to be at war with various ratepayer groups, some of his own councillors and fellow southeast Queensland councils.
Cr Tate hit back declaring he’d be judged at the 2020 election and would continue to put the city before politics.
Mr Ciobo yesterday said he was incredibly proud of the “billions” he had helped the Coalition in Canberra deliver for the Gold Coast including $1.2 billion in M1 funding, record money for tourism and small business backing.
“What matters more than talking big is delivering big. Tom Tate unfortunately is big on announcement but very poor on follow through,” Mr Ciobo said. “For years we have been hearing about this cruise ship terminal which has gotten nowhere.
“We’ve been hearing about a casino, and new ventures which have gotten nowhere.
“I will always fight for my constituents. I have delivered for them but I have one obligation – to defend how the Coalition have delivered for our city,” Mr Ciobo said.
Last week, Gold Coast business titan Rebecca Frizelle said there was no doubt Cr Tate had the city’s interests at heart and “consistently delivered strong economic and overall growth opportunities”.