Among Bracks' first duties as Premier was the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Also there with a city delegation was Lord Mayor Peter Costigan. The trip may have colored Bracks' view of the council. Bracks, and many business colleagues, looked askance when Costigan set off into the streets of Davos in a business suit and Collingwood Football Club beanie. Council sources said the beanie made several appearances and suggested that Middle Eastern delegates thought Costigan's headgear had some religious significance.
First impressions count.
Costigan continued to clash with Bracks' office, reportedly trying to stop Bracks from speaking at a Davis Cup function and more recently, unsuccessfully insisting on speaking at a state function for Olympic athletes. Costigan survived because a vote of two-thirds of the councillors was needed to unseat him. By late August, when Cameron met the peak bodies in Bistro 1, the government was close to moving against the council. That dinner bought the council time even though it refused the offer of a State Government mediator. Costigan has maintained the council's problems are ones of perception.