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4-Corners: Gold Coast deputy voted dozens of times for development plans lodged by campaign donors
The deputy mayor of the Gold Coast has voted in favour of development applications linked to her campaign donors nearly 30 times since the last election, acknowledging a potential conflict of interest each time.
An investigation by Four Corners has revealed that Donna Gates has not left the council chamber on any of the occasions she has declared a “real or perceived conflict of interest” because of donations associated with developers or the property industry.
Councillor Gates declared $174,000 in campaign donations, including tens of thousands from developers and property industry firms, after last year’s local government elections …
Here’s how it’s done on the Gold Coast …
“For the stupid Four Corners, that asked me the question about … why did I declare my perceived conflict of interest and remain in the room? It’s because I have firmly the opinion that I could participate in the debate and vote on this matter in the public interest. Right. Quote me on that, you idiots.” GOLD COAST MAYOR TOM TATE
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ABC, Four Corners