The Gold Coast Mayor has warned 2018 Commonwealth Games chairman Peter Beattie to "control his mouth" after commenting on a games ticket scandal surrounding the city's council.
Mr Beattie blamed council infighting after it was revealed its chief executive bought games tickets before they went on sale to the public.
Gold Coast City chief executive Dale Dickson bought an estimated 1,400 tickets and distributed them to councillors and staff.
Mr Beattie told ABC Gold Coast he was "cranky" at the news that tickets had been leaked from within the council.
"These games are the biggest opportunity to promote the Gold Coast that has ever existed," he said.
"Now if we stuff this up with stupid internal fights then we will pay a price for that and we will never get another opportunity to do this in our lifetimes."
But Mr Tate has hit back.
"Peter Beattie should control his mouth because this would have been a one-day story," he said.
"For him to go and have positions about infighting, about reprimanding councillors; he is past his use-by-date as a politician.
"He should pull his head in, get on with the game. and we will help promote the city," Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said.
Mr Beattie said as a Commonwealth Games partner Gold Coast City is entitled to the tickets and can use them as it likes.
However, the Games chairman said he would like to see them distributed to community groups.
But Mr Tate said he would take control of how the tickets were used.
