Council told to give back Games' tickets

Queensland's opposition leader has called on Gold Coast councillors to hand back specially-reserved free tickets to next year's Commonwealth Games.

Liberal National Party leader Tim Nicholls says it's unfair the council's chief executive, Dale Dickson, organised hundreds of free tickets paid for by ratepayers prior to the ticket draw in April.

Mr Nicholls, himself, as well as Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones, and thousands of other applicants missed out on seats to the heavily over-subscribed Gold Coast Games.

He felt special treatment for local councillors was on the nose.

"I really think the tickets should be available for the people of Queensland, they shouldn't be reserved for special interest groups in terms of councillors and politicians," Mr Nicholls said on Sunday.

"They should just go into the draw like everyone else.

"I simply say put those tickets back into the draw and make them available for Queenslanders who can apply for them."

Ms Jones, who was unsuccessful in attempts to take her daughter to the gymnastics, says it's a matter for the Gold Coast City Council but there were no state government objections as the tickets were paid for.

Mr Dickson, whose contract expires later this year, said council had been invited to purchase tickets early and some were given to residents "adversely impacted" by certain sports and events.

He said councillors had until December to accept the tickets and they would be returned to organising committee GOLDOC if they did not.

"The tickets are for councillors as well as trade, business and advocacy purposes," the council's CEO said.

GOLDOC said it was customary in major international events for corporate and Games delivery partners to purchase tickets from a separate allocation in accordance with commercial agreements.

"We provided as many tickets as possible for the general public to purchase, which is over one million," it said in a statement.

"There are no free tickets for anyone."