Suspended Townsville mayor Troy Thompson could get second job

Besieged Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson will be able to get a second job while raking in a $250,000 salary during his 12-month fully paid suspension.

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

Besieged Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson will be able to get a second job while raking in a $250,000 salary during his 12-month fully paid suspension.

The disgraced mayor will also be permitted to travel overseas, but will have to continue to meet employment obligations under the Local Government Act, including declaring additional wages obtained from outside his role on his register of interests.

The Crime and Corruption Commission is investigating whether Mr Thompson misled voters over his education, business qualifications and military experience during the local government election campaign at the beginning of 2024.

Mr Thompson has denied the allegations and no findings have been made.

The government’s decision to suspend the mayor on full pay has caused a stoush between the LNP and Labor, with the Opposition calling the decision “weak”.

It is understood the government will need to continue paying Mr Thompson’s salary until the CCC investigation is finalised or the end of the four-year government term, meaning Mr Thompson could earn up to $750,000 over a three-year suspension.

Professor of Law at the University of Queensland Graeme Orr said if Mr Thompson was to ramp up private work while suspended he could argue that he had been told not to focus on being mayor or that any conflict of interest would be theoretical until the suspension ended.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy at Townsville City Council. Picture: Evan Morgan

“That said, a duty to declare remains, as he is still in office,” he said.

“So even on suspension he should update his register of interests.

“The duty is forward-looking, so it literally concerns any identifiable risk a councillor or mayor ‘may’ have a say in a decision affecting that outside interest or business.”

Mr Orr said Mr Thompson could also argue that he is entitled to keep his ability to be employable alive, should he lose the mayoralty before the suspension is lifted.

Minister for Local Government Ann Leahy has argued that the government had been backed into a legal corner following decisions made by the former Labor government.

She said the alternative option would have been costly for ratepayers.

“The LNP government was hamstrung in its options due to the legal avenue taken by the former Labor government,” she said.

“Under the former Labor government’s show cause notice, the only available option for suspension was on full pay.

“Mr Thompson’s decision to request a suspension ensures the precedent of a state government dismissing an elected official is not set and Townsville ratepayers are not exposed to a costly legal challenge.”

Opposition Leader Steven Miles rubbished the claims, saying the government had other options than a paid suspension.

“David Crisafulli has gone from breaking promises to making things up,” he said.

“He had a number of options to choose from and he took the weakest option.

“Troy Thompson could have been removed from his position, suspended without pay or suspended with pay.

“Blaming Labor for his decision is gutless, and he needs to explain why he gave Troy Thompson a ratepayer funded holiday.”

Following his suspension Mr Thompson said he would continue pursuing legal action and despite not being able to perform councillor duties, “will continue to be a community contributor”.