Townsville mayor Troy Thompson referred to Crime and Corruption Commission

Now the subject of a Crime and Corruption Commission probe, further complaints have arisen over the Townsville mayor’s campaign donations and university qualifications.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

Now the subject of a Crime and Corruption Commission probe, further complaints have been lodged over the mayor’s university qualifications and a number of donations to his election campaign.

As reported earlier today, Queensland’s council integrity watchdog has referred Townsville mayor Troy Thompson to the Crime and Corruption Commission after questions arose about his military service.

Mr Thompson last week produced his military service number to “put an end” to speculation, however the full contents of his record reveal he did not spend five years in the army or SAS as he told voters.

It can now be revealed that a further complaint was lodged with the OIA earlier this month regarding two donations to Mr Thompson’s campaign, disclosed via the Electoral Commission of Queensland and Townsville City Council’s register of interests.

The first in question is a $2000 “cash donation for advertising” from John Honeycombe on March 7, 2024. John is a local investor and the father of major developer Peter Honeycombe.

The second refers to a ‘gift’ from AP Williams Builders listed on Mr Thompson’s TCC register of interests for an amount greater than $500 for “campaign sponsorship - Radio Triple M”.

The family-owned building firm offers house and land packages across Townsville.

Queensland law bans political donations from property developers and industry bodies which have property developers as the majority of their members, according to the ECQ.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Mr Honeycombe or AP Williams Builders.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson referred to himself as a business graduate throughout his campaign.

Prior to being elected, Mr Thompson’s LinkedIn profile listed a number of qualifications, including a Bachelor of Science, Occupational Safety and Health Technology with Curtin University completed 1990-1993, during the same time he was enlisted in the army reserves.

It also stated he holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Marketing via Griffith University from 2000-2005.

During his mayoral campaign, Mr Thompson referred to himself as “a business graduate”.

A search of online award verifications show no record of Mr Thompson or his previously-known name, Troy Birnbrauer, having graduated at either Griffith or Curtin Universities.

These qualifications no longer appear on Mr Thompson’s LinkedIn profile, with his only employment showing his current title, Mayor of Townsville.

An OIA spokeswoman confirmed they received Mr Thompson’s military service history on May 22.

“On 24 May the OIA referred the matter to the Crime and Corruption Commission (the conduct of candidates is a matter for other agencies),” the spokeswoman said.

“The OIA will not be commenting further on this matter at this time.”

Mr Thompson has refused to answer any of the Bulletin’s questions about his past, including claims made during his mayoral campaign in March.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland has also been approached for comment.

Mayor’s record differs from claims

Mr Thompson last week produced his military service number to “put an end” to speculation, however the full contents of his record reveal he did not spend five years in the army or SAS as he told voters.

Mayor Troy Thompson also compared his treatment in the media and community to that of returning war veterans, who he said were “mistreated, spat on, spoken about poorly, and not supported”.

Mr Thompson is currently being investigated by Queensland’s council integrity watchdog, the Office of the Independent Assessor, after questions arose about his military history during official Anzac week duties.

Posting a video to his Facebook page under the banner “Special announcement: My Service Number” on Wednesday night, Mr Thompson produced what he referred to as “a dossier” containing his military service history.

Without detailing what was inside the dossier, Mr Thompson said providing his service number “put to bed” any questions over his claims.

The issues being addressed by the Bulletin are not only whether Mr Thompson has a service number, but if the postings and period of service match what was claimed during his election campaign and since being sworn in as mayor.

The questions this masthead has asked of the city’s leader have been those repeatedly raised by veterans of our Garrison city.

Documents witnessed by the Townsville Bulletin reveal the mayor spent less than six months undertaking entry-level training within the army reserves over a period of two and a half years.

Troy Thompson's 'My Life in the Army' post on his campaign page, which has since been deleted.

Records show Mr Thompson completed a two-week recruit course from June 8 to June 22, 1991, before completing a reservist cooking course between July and December 1991, with no listed courses or activities past 1991 until his date of discharge on October 23, 1993.

This appears to be in contrast to Mr Thompson’s claims throughout his mayoral campaign where he was captured on a video interview stating he “spent five years in the military in Perth, so I was in signals, in … Karakatta, Fremantle and SAS Swanbourne.”

Mr Thompson has repeatedly said he joined the army in 1989, however service records show he enlisted two years later in 1991.

Responding to a question about his timings on Facebook, Mr Thompson said: “The time line was incorrect, but I couldn’t remember the exact timeline, so I fall short, so I’m told”.

Mr Thompson’s service records show he joined the Australian Army Active Reserve on March 26, 1991, in 109 Signal Squadron at Leeuwin Barracks in WA.

Mr Thompson was posted to the Army Reserve’s 13th Brigade as part of the Australian Army Catering Corps on December 8, 1991 upon the completion of his cooking course, but remained inactive from thereafter, according to documents sighted.

Reservists who remain inactive for two years are automatically discharged, but records show Mr Thompson was discharged at his own request on October 23, 1993.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson delivering his address at the 2024 Anzac Day Dawn Service at Anzac Park, The Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

His claims of being posted to 105 Signals in Fremantle and 152 Signals in Swanbourne, which is connected to the SAS, do not appear anywhere in his official service records.

An Instagram page last week leaked the mayor’s brief service record, with the details also being posted within the official Townsville City Council’s Facebook page comments.

The Bulletin did not report this information, rather putting questions to Mr Thompson to allow him the opportunity to address community concerns the leaked information did not match what was claimed during his campaign.

Mr Thompson declined to comment on the contents of his service record.

“Whilst I appreciate you have headlines to meet (sic), the information circulated last week may be a breach of confidentiality from within the Department of Defence, if it is at all true in its nature, as at its time of circulation, I had not received any information,” the mayor told the Bulletin.

“Regardless, the information is not for public record, and of a private nature.”

The Bulletin believes this information is of high public interest, given the mayor’s continued pledge of transparency since being sworn into office last month and comments he made about his service during the election campaign.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson posted this image to his Facebook page saying they are "the Marching-In Ceremony photos I have now found from storage".

Mr Thompson said what he provided followers via a recorded video would be all he would say on the matter.

Telling a Facebook follower that “the rest is private and will remain that way”, Mr Thompson stated, “I came in with 109 Sig, and left under HQ 13 BDE. That should suffice.”

“I’ve got to say a really big thank you to all those veterans who have supported me, all the services, the army, the heads of army, it’s been fantastic. The support is never ending,” Mr Thompson told his followers.

The mayor took aim at the “poor moral obligations met by the media” on Anzac Day.

“(My father) didn’t go to Anzac days, he didn’t want to march, he didn’t feel proud,” he said.

“But on (Anzac Day last month), I had a little bit of a glimpse of what he had to go through because all I wanted to do was to demonstrate my father’s medals, and how proud I was of him on Anzac Day.

“ … everybody was more concerned about my other side (of my chest), from service side, where I didn’t have a medal. I didn’t earn a medal … I didn’t spend enough time in the reserves to get a medal.”

Mr Thompson ended the video by saying: “So respectfully, you’ve now got my service number; that ends the conversation. There’ll be no more further conversations or comments from me. Let’s move forward.”

An OIA spokesperson confirmed they had received a service number and service records from Mr Thompson.

“The OIA is currently considering this information and cannot comment further at this time,” they said.

Originally published as Townsville mayor Troy Thompson referred to Crime and Corruption Commission