Gold Coast mayor withheld Mar-a-lago invoice after Trump Tower conflict

The mayor’s office claims Mr. Tate only brought a paper invoice documenting the Florida trip into the office once, and subsequently removed it, preventing staff from creating a copy. This invoice was crucial in Mr. Tate’s efforts to address conflict of interest concerns regarding a proposed $1.5 billion Trump Tower on Gold Coast beaches earlier this year.

Mr. Tate initially declared he received complimentary accommodation from the Trump Organization, sparking public criticism. He later revised his declaration, stating he personally paid for his three-day stay in February at the exclusive club, which sits on 20 acres.

“When I asked for the invoice on check out, they didn’t have it,” Mr. Tate stated in September. “I followed it up, I got the invoice, and we got it paid.”

The mayor has refused to release the invoice and now characterizes the trip—for which taxpayers funded airfare—as a “private” matter. The Gold Coast City Council has denied two ABC right to information requests for the document. A council officer explained in an internal appeal that no copy exists in council systems, citing the mayor’s handling of the physical invoice. They further stated the council would not pursue obtaining the privately held copy.

Transparency International Australia chief executive Clancy Moore expressed concern that the lack of a record could be perceived as an excuse. “Otherwise, it could be perceived as the old ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse,” he said.

Questions remain regarding the exact cost of the trip. While Mr. Tate insists he did not receive discounted rates, he has declined to disclose the amount. His office responded to inquiries with a brief statement: “The office of the mayor has fulfilled all (right to information) requirements.”

Previously released information revealed Mr. Tate spent over $13,000 personally upgrading his flights. The trip gained notoriety after Mr. Tate initially claimed to have dined with President Trump, a claim later disputed by the White House and the Trump Organization, who stated the president only briefly acknowledged the mayor’s table. Mr. Tate defended his recollection, stating, “Recollections may vary.”

During a press conference, Mr. Tate abruptly ended questioning and directed a journalist to “f—k off,” twice. The invitation to Mar-a-Lago was reportedly extended by the Trump Organization, not the Queensland developer involved in the proposed Trump Tower project. No written record of the invitation was found, with the mayor’s office attributing this to a verbal invitation. The Trump Tower proposal, facing significant opposition, ultimately collapsed.