City of Gold Coast Senior Staff Incur $163,071 in Travel Expenses Over Six Months

Senior staff at the City of Gold Coast, Queensland's second-largest council, incurred $163,071 in domestic and international travel expenses between July and December of last year. This figure included over $54,000 for a week-long trip to the United Kingdom by council chief executive Tim Baker and a staff member in July.

Concerns Raised by Councillors

Committee chair Brooke Patterson highlighted a significant disparity in spending.

The City of Gold Coast's international travel costs were more than 2.5 times higher than those of Brisbane City Council, despite the Gold Coast organization being approximately half the size. Councillors described these costs as disproportionately high.

An additional $46,000 in staff travel expenses, not initially disclosed in the expense report, was later revealed to be for five professional development courses. The individual costs of these courses were withheld, citing obligations under the Privacy Information Act.

Councillor Donna Gates noted that this lack of detailed information impeded councillors' decision-making.

Chief Executive's Travel and Justifications

Tim Baker's international travel during the July-December period totaled over $89,000. This included $23,000 for an AI training course in the United States that was not previously disclosed.

A council spokesperson explained that Mr. Baker's travel was influenced by specific circumstances. This included representing Invest Gold Coast while it lacked a permanent CEO and addressing insurance matters following Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The council stated this travel contributed to securing approximately $9 million in savings for the city.

Another trip to the United States with Mayor Tom Tate in October and November last year was cited as professional development intended to reduce reliance on external consultants, potentially saving up to $200,000 in future costs. This trip also supported a Mayoral Mission to a boat show in Florida and sister city celebrations.

Mr. Baker is currently in the United States with Mayor Tom Tate and Invest Gold Coast CEO Will Hodgman, attending the 'G'day USA' event.

Future Oversight

Cr Patterson announced plans to propose that councillors seek independent legal advice regarding the privacy obligations applied to staff travel expenses.

She highlighted the unexpectedly large scale of international travel and stated it requires council oversight.

A city spokesperson confirmed that all future travel by Chief Executive Tim Baker would require approval through a council vote.

In the 2024-25 financial year, the total cost of international travel for over 30 staff, including those from council-owned entities like Invest Gold Coast, exceeded $350,000.