Opposition leader calls to review local government legislation following Townsville Mayor instability

Opposition leader David Crisafulli believes further scrutiny of the Local Government Act is needed as the Townsville Mayor’s “untenable” position drags on.

Embattled Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson has been a controversial topic of discussion since he was elected, with party leaders calling for him to stand aside while an investigation is made against him. Picture: Evan Morgan

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has called for an examination of the Local Government Act to find any flaws that enabled the appointment of Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson.

Speaking in Townsville on Tuesday, Mr Crisafulli again urged the mayor to stand aside while the Crime and Corruption Commission independently investigates claims he made in his election campaign which distorted his military history and education, as well as multiple campaign donations.

“For the sake of the city and the order of the council my view is the mayor shouldn’t be in that position,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Both Mr Crisafulli and Premier Steven Miles have expressed similar views about the inappropriateness of Mr Thompson’s position in recent months, but have lent on the independent CCC to form its own findings.

Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon also intervened by announcing a state appointed adviser who would monitor the council’s performance in coming weeks for a term of about six months.

David Crisafulli speaks on Mayor Troy Thompson's untenable position while LNP candidates from Townsville based seats stand around him.

Almost all councillors including Mr Thompson revealed their support for the decision, but are still waiting for the details of how such intervention would work.

But Mr Crisafulli, also a former Townsville City councillor who prided himself on not weighing in on council politics in the aftermath of long-term mayor Jenny Hill’s defeat in March, promised to scrutinise the legislation further if LNP won government in less than 40 days.

“You should never say that an Act shouldn’t be improved, right?” Mr Crisafulli said.

“No matter what that piece of legislation is, you should always be open minded, so if that has exposed things that need to be improved in the local government act, well then, that should be looked at.”

There had been concern whether the state government, whomever may lead it, could have different perspectives on how to respond to Mr Thompson’s term, which without intervention could continue until the next election in 2028 even if recommendations were made by the CCC.

But Townsville council’s fractured leadership has taken momentum from state candidates’ campaigns, regardless of their political affiliations, as the residents they doorknock consistently raise concerns about the mayor and the issues in Walker Street.

Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli during parliament in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Many Townsville residents have angrily called for the dissolution of the council and for the government to push for a by-election, and a confidential and leaked email from Mr Thompson to his councillors showed he would push for this if they did not unanimously support 19 conditions.

This included councillors siding with the mayor in his feud with interim CEO Joe McCabe by removing his application from the shortlist of candidates.

But Townsville’s 10 divisional councillors believe there is no need to dissolve the entire council, saying the issue is entirely the mayor.

Mr Crisafulli said any Queensland Premier would not have the legislative power to dissolve the council, although recognised there were measures to oust a council that was unable to meet financial and competency requirements.

“You have to adhere to the provisions of the Act and I’m a big believer of that,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Let us look at the Act and let’s see if it’s fit for purpose.

“In the meantime there’s a CCC report, let that run its course.”

According to the Local Government Act 2009, there are processes to remove a councillor, or a local government.

For an individual councillor to be removed, the Local Government Minister could make a recommendation to the Governor in Council to do so, if a tribunal recommended that councillor be dismissed, or is incapable of performing their responsibilities.

To dissolve the entire Townsville City Council, and not just the mayor, it would have to be determined that it breached its local government principles or was incapable of performing its responsibilities.

If the council was dissolved, an administrator would be appointed which would operate at the ratepayers’ expense, and a by-election would be held “as soon as practicable”.

Originally published as Opposition leader calls to review local government legislation following Townsville Mayor instability