• MAYOR Tom Tate dined with his former lawyer Tony Hickey, the spokesman for the Chinese company building the city’s tallest tower, just 24 hours before the project was approved by the city council.

Exclusive photographs obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin show an animated conversation between the pair during the lunch, with Mr Hickey at one stage pointing at the mayor.

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Tom Tate and Wayne Hickey at lunch and an artist’s impression of Spirit. Photo: supplied