Mayor admits he ‘didn’t say it right’ when asked about service history

A recently elected Queensland mayor has apologised to the military after claims he exaggerated his service record during his campaign.

Troy Thompson, who last week was referred to Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission, has faced a month of media scrutiny over references to his military service while he ran for mayor of Townsville.

Troy Thompson spoke to A Current Affair in his first sit-down interview since being elected as Townsville mayor.Credit: A Current Affair

In an online interview before the election, he said he had spent five years in the military, in three squadrons – 109 in Perth, 105 in Fremantle, and 152 Squadron at the home of the SAS, in Swanbourne.

But some observers raised doubts when Thompson was photographed on Anzac Day wearing only his father’s medals, and could not recall his service number.

He requested his documents from the Department of Defence and promised to make them public.

This week, in his first sit-down interview as mayor, he backtracked on the claim he had served in the military for five years, but rejected the suggestion he had lied.

“Look, I honestly, hand-on-heart, thought it was five years,” he told Nine’s A Current Affair.

“I actually thought it was ’89 that I joined. When I got my report, I realised that was ’91.

“Those who know me know that I’ve had multiple concussions – 100 plus – and I suffer from epilepsy.

“That’s not an excuse. But what it says is you’re going to forget things from time to time.”

Thompson said he had “had a rethink” on releasing his full service history publicly, but conceded he did not serve in three separate units, and was never a member of the SAS.

Instead, he said he had spent three years in the military as a reservist, largely in the Catering Corps.

“I probably didn’t say it right, pre-election,” he added. “But I certainly spent some time with people from SAS.

“I’d never purport to be a soldier of the SAS. And they’re the most respected soldiers we have. So it’s important.”

Asked if he was sorry about what had happened, Thompson said he “absolutely” was.

“I apologise to all services, as well as veterans and Defence,” he said.

“I think it’s important to put that out there because, you know, I respect the military.”

Thompson struggled to answer questions about fines imposed in a Southport court for forgery in 2007, for which no conviction was recorded, saying: “I don’t know anything about it.”

He later claimed the charges were over a credit application, and the fact he had used a previous surname.

He was also asked about his career in business, including his time as director of software company iPro Solutions, which collapsed in 2017 owing almost $9 million.

He said not being able to pay workers $236,000 in owed wages, superannuation, leave and redundancy entitlements made him feel “like crap”.

He acknowledged he had arranged a payout to his ex-wife, an employee of the company.

Failing to disclose the collapse saw Thompson booted from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party in 2020.

But he insisted he would be capable of working on the budget for the city of Townsville.

“It’s so different,” he said. “This is something I understand really well.”