How can Townsville’s mayor lobby for funding with fractured political relationships

After being caught out in another lie, Townsville’s mayor says he will continue fighting for funding as he prepares to welcome state and federal leaders to the city this week. But will they talk to him?

Townsville’s controversial Mayor Troy Thompson says he’ll put fractured relationships aside to hit up state and federal governments for more money to fund vital projects like the $150m Haughton Pipeline blackhole and the overlooked concert hall.

The Federal Government is yet to announce a decision to stump up $100m to construct the Reef HQ aquarium, even though the council agreed funds should be diverted from the concert hall to support it.

But Mr Thompson begins such negotiations with frosty and distant relationships with the Prime Minister and the Premier, during an ongoing Crime and Corruption Commission investigation over lies told during and after his election as Townsville mayor.

These fractured relationships are likely to be reflected as leaders prepare to gather at the Courier Mail-Townsville Bulletin Bush Summit held in Townsville on Friday.

While the CCC gave no further indication of progress with the investigation, Mr Thompson is part of a two-day delegation to Brisbane with Townsville Enterprise representatives and Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo to push a political wishlist leading up to the state election in October, before then returning for the Bush Summit.

Mr Thompson has faced months of controversy and a chaotic first 100 days of his term, during which Premier Steven Miles urged him publicly on several occasions to stand down.

Premier Steven Miles has previously expressed concerns about Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson’s leadership.

Only last week Mr Thompson denied he tried to sue his own council for $100,000 on the grounds of prejudice because of his epilepsy, despite an obtained internal council document which showed he had demanded the sum and threatened further action.

At a recent press conference, Mr Thompson said “we need to push the politics aside” as he lobbied politicians for funding outcomes for state and federal responsibilities.

Mr Albanese, who will return to Townsville on Friday for the Bush Summit, his fourth visit to the city this year, said last month that his representatives had tried to meet with Mr Thompson, the “right wing mayor” who was “a bit distracted at the moment”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Port of Townsville during a recent visit. He indicated poor communication between his representatives and the Mayor. Mr Albanese will be returning to Townsville this week to speak at the Bush Summit. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Thompson responded to the comments made by the Prime Minister.

“Obviously I took a little bit of time out, come back and you get to refocus,” Mr Thompson said, referring to health leave he took earlier this year, which he indicated related to his epilepsy.

“I reached out to the Prime Minister’s office, I reached out to every single member. If they choose not to come back I’ll keep coming, so that’s my promise to Townsville, I’ll keep coming back to them, and I’ll be pushing to get a result for Townsville.”

Last Friday a confidential council meeting resulted in funds being redirected in the Townsville City Deal to provide $100m for the Reef HQ aquarium, but at the detriment of the $98m concert hall.

Councillors including Mr Thompson were dissatisfied with being required to make the decision even though they voted nine-two to do so.

Mr Thompson campaigned on a platform on openness and transparency, and while he said he was still committed to doing this, the “robust” discussions needed to be held in confidence because it involved information and decision making set by the federal government.

“There’s money involved but they need to tell that, they need to tell the story,” Mr Thompson said.

“We’re going to be very open and we’re going to be very transparent regardless of how I feel about how things are portrayed.

“There is always commercial-in-confidence but we want to start removing the lid on a lot of that.”

A CCC spokeswoman would not give detail on progress into Mr Thompson’s investigation, and recognised a balance between the public’s right to information, and accountability, but with that of the privacy of individuals and the integrity of investigations.

“On this basis, the CCC does not confirm or comment on any complaint or investigation, referrals to other agencies or matters before the court.”

TEL chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Bush Summit was an “amazing opportunity for Townsville” and that she would focus on pushing housing, migration and renewable energy investment.

She also hoped a decision confirming funds for Reef HQ’s construction would be revealed.

“I have spoken to the federal government and we believe there is a comment being made by the Prime Minister when he’s here on Friday,” she said.

Ms Brumme-Smith did not believe the concert hall was overlooked as a result of TEL’s ‘Save Our Aquarium’ campaign, but considering inflated construction costs the concert hall business case “hasn’t stacked up” as a single-use facility.

Originally published as How can Townsville’s mayor lobby for funding with fractured political relationships