Tate fly fight off chest

MAYOR Tom Tate says he flew first-class to the UK this month because of an illness and feared not being fit enough to represent the city.

Mr Tate said he was suffering from a chest infection and on medical advice could have aborted the trip.

Mr Tate said that the difference between one-way business-class and first-class was $2000-5000. He said he sought to fly business-class on return because he could recover at home.

“What people don’t know was I was on the third course of my antibiotics,” he told the Bulletin.

“The fear was the chest infection, I was vulnerable. I had my B shots. I was rundown because of my work schedule, there was an option of me to basically cancel.

“In the times where Covid is prevalent, especially when you are flying, I know that in firstclass it’s less dense. You are more protected.”

Mr Tate said 26 businesses, in good faith, had prepared for the mayoral mission and their counterparts in the UK were also backing the meetings.

“If (I) arrived not fresh or worse I couldn’t have performed my duty. The schedule is morning and night dinner functions,” he said.

“If my mindset is to milk it, why didn’t I travel back on first? My attitude in coming back, is the job is done, not in first-class coming back because I will have time to go home and recoup.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Tate said he was confident his mission to the UK would create a $1bn long-term boost to the city’s economy.

In his mayoral report at a full council meeting, Mr Tate said some meetings were commercial-in-confidence, due to the sensitivity of discussions.

“I can say without a doubt this was the most successful mayoral mission in my time as Mayor,” he said.

In his first address to councillors since returning from the trip, which included the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Mr Tate made no reference to travel costs or flying across in first-class before returning in business-class. The cost of Mr Tate’s overseas trip with council staff is likely to be more than $80,000, which has sparked criticism from cashstrapped ratepayers.

A mayoral office spokesman said all travel was in accordance with approved policy. The Mayor’s report was backed by all councillors. No debate, at that point in the meeting, occurred on expenses despite councillors wanting to review policies. Mr Tate told councillors: “We will review our return on investment over the coming months and report in 12 months’ time.

“I am very confident that the return to the city will at the very least exceed over $100m in the near future and can be up to $1bn in the longer term.”

Mr Tate said a breakfast networking event at Sofitel St James showcased the Coast to tourism and education agents.

“Representatives from Study Gold Coast and Destination Gold Coast also attended and addressed the breakfast,” he said.

“We highlighted our commitment to expanding our tertiary education sector through council’s ongoing investment in Study Gold Coast. We warmly welcome international students from the UK to study at our universities.”

Mr Tate said the UK was the city’s fourth-largest international market, attracting annually around 63,000 visitors.

“This was the largest Gold Coast business-trade delegation, and I would rate the visit to London and Birmingham as the best business exposure for our city in the past decade,” he said.