Journalists and a cameraman from the ABC have been denied access to a press conference held by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, a day after Four Corners reported on the extent of political donations to the city's councillors.

Cr Tate was due to hold a press conference in the foyer of the council chambers in Bundall on Tuesday morning.

When journalists from various media organisations arrived, the venue was shifted, ABC Gold Coast reporter Tom Forbes said.

"One of his press representatives came down and said everybody — excluding the ABC — was allowed upstairs into the Mayor's committee room for a press conference," Forbes said on ABC Radio Brisbane.

Cr Tate said he did not allow the ABC in, because he was considering legal action.

It is the first speaking opportunity for Cr Tate since Monday night's Four Corners story.

Sorry, this video has expired Conflict of interest or business as usual on the Gold Coast?

The program revealed Deputy Mayor Donna Gates voted in favour of development applications linked to her campaign donors nearly 30 times since 2016.

Cr Tate refused requests to be interviewed from Four Corners. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

She had declared nearly $174,000 in campaign donations, with donors including developers and property industry firms.

Forbes said Cr Tate's office had refused repeated interview requests from Four Corners in the lead-up to the program being broadcast.

"This is our new paradigm on the Gold Coast. The Mayor will talk to who he wants to and we have been excluded," he said.

Cr Gates, Cr Tate and other councillors have denied any wrongdoing over developer donations.

Questions the ABC was going to ask:

Why didn't you sit down for an interview with Four Corners?

Why didn't you sit down for an interview with Four Corners? Should councillors vote on development applications by their political donors?

Should councillors vote on development applications by their political donors? Should developers be banned from making political donations?

Should developers be banned from making political donations? Your feasibility study into an offshore cruise ship terminal at The Spit shows ships could be pushed to shore by strong winds, why did you keep that information from the public?

Your feasibility study into an offshore cruise ship terminal at The Spit shows ships could be pushed to shore by strong winds, why did you keep that information from the public? Will that report be released in full?

Will that report be released in full? Did you help Forise Holdings sell apartments to Chinese investors during a private trip to Beijing?

Did you help Forise Holdings sell apartments to Chinese investors during a private trip to Beijing? Did you know you were being referred to as the mayor (during the private trip to Beijing)?

Did you know you were being referred to as the mayor (during the private trip to Beijing)? Did Forise Holdings pay any of your travel expenses?

Mayor hopes Four Corners will become 'Two Corners'

In vision obtained from another media outlet, Cr Tate told reporters at the press conference the reason the ABC was locked out was because he was considering legal action.

"I talked to my lawyer and he said 'it's best you don't talk to them because if you press the button on litigation you don't want to jeopardise any of that'," he said.

"Post my mayoralty I'd be interested to put up my hand as ABC chairman and if I do come in, Four Corners I think will be Two Corners."

Cr Tate said his council had always complied with the law, and it was up to the State Government if they wanted to ban developer donations.

"I wouldn't object to any of that because it wouldn't affect me at all because we're self-funded," he said.

"If there's potential conflict of interest people will excuse [themselves] and leave the room.

"But if there's perceived conflict and they feel that they can add value for the benefit of the city they will remain in the room and debate accordingly, that's the law."

Mayor's behaviour 'just not on', Councillor says

Gold Coast City Councillor Dawn Crichlow said Cr Tate was acting "childish".

"With what he said prior about the Four Corners program calling them idiots he's acting too childish and it's just not on," Cr Crichlow said.

"It will affect him and it certainly will affect the council."

Ms Gates declared $174,000 in campaign donations after last year's local government elections. ( AAP: Dan Peled )

Cr Gates' decision not to leave the chamber or abstain from voting is not illegal under Queensland law.

However, concerns that council decisions are being influenced by developers have prompted senior Labor figures in the Queensland Government to call for a statewide ban on donations.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad on Tuesday both signalled changes to local government laws to stop councillors voting for projects after receiving donations from developers.

However, they both said they would be awaiting the result of a Crime and Corruption Commission report into the issue, which is yet to be handed down.

"I think there are concerns about conflicts of interest, I think there are concerns about the nexus between developer donations and councillors voting," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"To see councillors voting when they have been receiving donations is of concern."