A Gold Coast City councillor has ignited a fierce debate over the appropriate use of ratepayer funds after winning a brand new car valued at $24,000 in a charity raffle, using a ticket purchased on her corporate credit card.
The Win That Started The Controversy
The incident centres on Councillor Brooke Patterson, who secured the MG hatch vehicle two weeks ago. The revelation that the winning $350 raffle ticket was bought with council funds immediately prompted calls for the local authority to tighten its policies governing such purchases.
This is not the first time Councillor Patterson has been at the centre of scrutiny. An independent investigation in July concluded she had fostered a “volatile environment” for senior staff. That probe came with a significant cost to the City of Gold Coast, tallying $142,000 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Patterson was directed to undertake communication training at her own expense following the investigation's findings.
A Murky Policy Landscape
The car win has thrown a spotlight onto confusing and seemingly inconsistent council expense rules. Notably, another councillor attending the same charity event chose to purchase their raffle ticket using personal money, highlighting a lack of clear guidelines.
Political commentator Cath Webber described the predicament as “tricky,” given how frequently elected officials attend fundraisers where high-priced raffles are commonplace. “When you think does it pass a pub test for a $350 raffle ticket you go, no way I don’t think any ratepayers going to be happy about that,” Webber told Sunrise. “They go to these events all the time. I don’t know that you can expect them to be putting their hand in their pocket for a $350 raffle ticket three times a week.”
Adding legal context, Bonafide podcast host Luke Bona noted that while the Local Government Act does permit incidental expenses, which can include raffle tickets, the situation underscores a need for much clearer directives. “If she’s going to give the car back I think there’s got to be a clearer policy on this,” Bona stated.
Fallout and Future Decisions
In response to the growing controversy, Councillor Patterson has offered to return the vehicle to the charity. The future of the car, however, now rests with the full council, which is scheduled to vote on the matter next year.
This has led to a broader community discussion on what should happen to the asset. Options on the table include the council retaining the vehicle for official business or selling it and using the proceeds to fund local community projects.
Reflecting on a potential simple solution, Cath Webber suggested the easiest path would have been to donate the car back to the charity on the night for re-raffling. She acknowledged, however, the complex and very public nature of such decisions for those in elected office.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between supporting community charities and the responsible stewardship of public money, an issue now demanding urgent clarity from the Gold Coast City Council.
