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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate slams LNP and Labor, says he'll 'look at' voting for Clive Palmer in federal election

Tom Tate says he's disappointed Scott Morrison hasn't visited the city during the election campaign. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has hit out at the LNP and Labor, saying the "two major parties are taking Gold Coasters for granted" ahead of the federal election.

Mr Tate said he would retaliate with his Senate vote and urged Gold Coast voters to do the same.

"I'm going to send a message on the Senate ballot and avoid the two major parties, quite controversial but from the Gold Coast's point of view, ignore us, we'll ignore you," he said. 

"It just sends the signal, 'Hey, don't take us for granted'.

Every Gold Coast electorate — Moncrieff, McPherson, Fadden, Wright and Forde — is held by the Liberal National Party by margins of more than 8 per cent.

"It's crickets out there, I think they're concentrating on marginal seats," Mr Tate said.

"I think you can put it down to 'we'll concentrate on marginal seats'. 

"If you want marginal stuff, there's the Senate section, we'll make that marginal."

LNP Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews holds the seat of McPherson. (ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard)

'Second most funded council in Australia'

Mr Tate said he wanted to see funding commitments for three major Gold Coast projects.

They were Stage 4 of the light rail linking Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta, the GreenHeart parklands project at Robina and the next stage of the Home of the Arts (HOTA) precinct. 

He also said he was disappointed the Prime Minister had not visited the Gold Coast during the election campaign

McPherson MP Karen Andrews, Moncrieff MP Angie Bell and Fadden MP Stuart Robert responded with a joint statement. 

"As the united Morrison Government Gold Coast team, we've been fighting and delivering significant investments across the coast — our own GC deal — with the full extent of commitments running into the billions of dollars," it read.

"The Gold Coast City Council is the second-most funded council in Australia. The Morrison Government is invested in seeing the Gold Coast succeed — this is evident in the extensive work being undertaken across the city."

The three MPs said the Morrison Government's commitments to the Gold Coast were worth more than $3.8 billion, and included the Coomera Connector, heavy rail upgrades and upgrades to multiple sections of the M1. 

Anthony Albanese and Gold Coast Labor candidates, 2022.  (ABC Gold Coast: Kimberley Bernard)

Meanwhile, Labor Senator Murray Watt said Anthony Albanese visited the Gold Coast just prior to the election being called. 

"Since then Labor has announced a number of Gold Coast election commitments, including a Medicare urgent care clinic, which will take pressure off hospital emergency departments and make it easier for locals to see a GP," Mr Watt said.

Will independents win big this election?
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