Mayor of the Gold Coast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of the City of the Gold Coast |
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|---|---|
 Tom Tate since 28 April 2012 |
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| Style | Councillor (Informal) His Worship (Formal) |
| Term length | 4 years |
| Deputy | Cr Donna Gates |
| Website | Gold Coast Mayor |
The Mayor of the City of the Gold Coast is like the main leader and public face of the Gold Coast City Council. This council is the local government for the Gold Coast area. The current mayor is Tom Tate.
The mayor represents the city and its council. People living in the City of Gold Coast area vote for the mayor in local elections every four years. The mayor leads all council meetings. They are the only council member who doesn't represent a specific area of the Gold Coast. The mayor is the main spokesperson for the Gold Coast City Council and its plans.
The Gold Coast City Council manages a huge budget, about $1.83 billion each year. This is one of the biggest budgets for a local government in Australia! The mayor's office is in the Southport Town Hall building in Southport, Queensland.
Contents
What Does the Mayor Do?
The mayor of the Gold Coast has many important jobs. These duties are set out in a law called the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld). Here are some of the main things the mayor is responsible for:
- Leading Meetings: The mayor runs and manages all the local government meetings. They make sure everyone follows the rules during these meetings.
- Budget Planning: The mayor helps create and suggest the city's yearly budget. This budget decides how the city's money will be spent.
- Working with the CEO: The mayor talks with the chief executive officer (CEO) of the council on behalf of the other council members.
- Guiding the CEO: The mayor guides the CEO to make sure the local government runs smoothly and effectively.
- Giving Directions: The mayor gives directions to the CEO, following the council's plans and rules.
- Checking Performance: At least once a year, the mayor checks how well the CEO is doing their job.
- Sharing Information: The mayor makes sure the state government gets any information it asks for about the Gold Coast area or the local government.
- Joining Committees: The mayor is a member of every main committee of the local government.
- Representing the City: The mayor represents the Gold Coast at special events and public gatherings.
Sharing Mayoral Jobs
Sometimes, the mayor can ask another council member to do one of their extra jobs. This is called "delegating" a responsibility. However, when any council member does a job, they must always think about what is best for everyone in the entire Gold Coast area.
Who Has Been Gold Coast Mayor?
The current Gold Coast mayor is Tom Tate. He was first chosen by voters on 28 April 2012. People voted for him again on 19 March 2016 and 28 March 2020. Each time, he won with a large number of votes.
| South Coast Mayor | Term |
|---|---|
| Len Peak | 1949–1958 |
| Gold Coast Mayor | Term |
| Ern Harley | 1958–1967 |
| Bruce Small | 1967–1973 |
| Robert Neumann | 1973–1976 |
| Bruce Small | 1976–1978 |
| John Andrews | 1978–1979 |
| Keith Hunt | 1979–1982 |
| Denis O'Connell | 1982–1985 |
| Denis Pie | 1985–1988 |
| Lex Bell | 1988–1994 |
| Ray Stevens | 1995–1997 |
| Gary Baildon | 1997–2004 |
| Ron Clarke | 2004–2012 |
| Tom Tate | 2012–present |
How Mayors Are Elected
Here are the results from recent elections for the Gold Coast Mayor:
2024 Election
2020 Election
2016 Election
2012 Election
2008 Election
How Gold Coast City is Run
The Gold Coast City Council is in charge of running the city. It covers the main Gold Coast area and nearby places. It's the second-largest local government area in Australia based on how many people live there. The council has over 2,500 staff members. It was first set up in 1948, but it has been in its current form since 1995.
City Areas and Councillors
The Gold Coast City is split into 14 different areas, called "divisions" or "wards." Each division chooses one council member, called a "councillor," every four years. The last local election was on 19 March 2016.
Here are the councillors for each division:
- Division 1: Cr Donna Gates (Deputy Mayor) – Yatala
- Division 2: Cr William Owen-Jones – Coomera
- Division 3: Cr Cameron Caldwell – Paradise Point
- Division 4: Cr Kristyn Boulton – Biggera Waters
- Division 5: Cr Peter Young – Pacific Pines, Nerang and Hinterland areas
- Division 6: Cr Dawn Crichlow – Southport
- Division 7: Cr Gary Baildon – Surfers Paradise
- Division 8: Cr Robert La Castra – Ashmore
- Division 9: Cr Glen Tozer – Mudgeeraba
- Division 10: Cr Paul Taylor – Broadbeach
- Division 11: Cr Hermann Vorster – Robina
- Division 12: Cr Pauline Young – Burleigh Heads
- Division 13: Cr Daphne McDonald – Palm Beach
- Division 14: Cr Gail O'Neill – Coolangatta
See also
