LNP leader judges the council he used to represent

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has called the dysfunction within Townsville City Council “heartbreaking” to watch as he reflected on his time as a former deputy mayor. See what else he said in this candid sit down interview.

David Crisafulli packing up his office on his last day as Townsville Deputy Mayor in 2012. Mr Crisafulli served as a councillor under Mayor Tony Mooney, and then as deputy for Les Tyrell after Townsville and Thuringowa amalgamated. Now, as he campaigns to lead an LNP led government, he considers it “heartbreaking” to watch the dysfunction within the council he used to work within.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli said it was “heartbreaking” watching the dysfunction within the Townsville City Council not only as a past councillor, but as someone who owed his career and family to the city.

“It hurts to see the city’s name put in disrepute,” Mr Crisafulli said.

But the LNP leader – who served under Les Tyrell as a deputy mayor – stopped short of casting blame on any particular reason or individual for the council’s dynamics, and avoided naming Mayor Troy Thompson, who is under an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

2010: Townsville City Council debate the water issues in the chamber. From (left to right) Councillors Ray Gartrell, David Crisafulli and Dale Last.

“I don’t think people want me to be a political commentator,” Mr Crisafulli said when asked what was to blame.

“What they want is a commitment from me that if the legislation is broken, it will be fixed and to allow the community to have a council that works.”

2008: Team Tyrell candidates Ray Gartrell, Dale Last, Natalie Marr and David Crisafulli with their posters.

While Mr Crisafulli focuses on an election campaign to become Premier, narrowed down to a platform of youth crime, health, housing and cost of living, he conceded he was “deeply concerned” about the divide between the current mayor and his councillors.

Mayor Troy Thompson at a recent Townsville City Council meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

He is urging shadow minister for local government Ann Leahy to prioritise legislative amendments if the LNP take government next month, which would be aimed at putting to task the councillors who were taking advantage of the community’s best interests.

Late last week, the longest-serving Queensland councillor, Paul Tully, suggested amendments could involve elected councillors determining their mayor rather than voters.

Richmond Mayor John Wharton, who has been in his position 27 years opposes an idea for councillors to vote in their mayor. Mr Wharton hopes Mr Crisafulli “doesn’t get too excited”. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm.

However Queensland’s longest-running mayor, Richmond’s John Wharton, slammed the “crazy” idea.

“You cannot legislate everything that happens, and I hope David Crisafulli doesn’t get too excited,” Mr Wharton said.

Mr Crisafulli told this masthead there were “mixed views” about the idea but that there were councils in New South Wales already enforced it.

Four-year-term councillors in these selected local governments choose their leader every two years.

LNP leader David Crisafulli speaks to a Newscorp journalist at Riverview Tavern, his old local pub when he studied and lived in Douglas. The former print and TV Townsville reporter has come full circle. Once he was the journalist asking the questions of politicians, but now he is the one campaigning to defeat Steven Miles for the Premier of Queensland. Picture: Supplied

“I haven’t spent any time thinking about changing that model of election for mayors or councillors,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We haven’t, but what we are determining to do is making sure that good councillors … have the flexibility and the legislation to serve their community, and those who don’t and those who do stray from those values are able to be held accountable.”

But another Townsville ex-deputy mayor, Mark Molachino, said he thinks it would be “an absolute mess” if a council could vote a mayor in and out of the role.

Former Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino at Ross River Dam. He has strong views about the council’s current performance. Picture: Chris Burns

“If we went down Paul Tully’s road then we’d end up with a mayor trying to please the councillors rather than doing what’s in the best interest in the community,” he said.

Mr Molachino – who was defeated in the March election as part of a swing against former mayor Jenny Hill – called for legislative changes that would require thorough background checks on council candidates before elections.

Mr Molachino said information about Mr Thompson’s past, including his disendorsement from One Nation and the company he directed going into receivership, had been publicly available.

However, he says most voters didn’t actively seek it out, leading them to elect someone who, in his view, is damaging the city’s reputation.

“It’s a disgrace is what it is,” Mr Molachino said.

Mayor Troy Thompson. Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It’s put Townsville on the map for all the wrong reasons, you know, we’ve already got problems with crime, and now we’ve got a dodgy mayor.”

He said there were councillors “trying to make the best of a bad situation” but there was a lack of clear direction within the council, which was increasingly having an impact on the community.

Originally published as LNP leader judges the council he used to represent