Townsville councillors call for Mayor Troy Thompson to resign

All Townsville councillors have stood in solidarity after Mayor Troy Thompson’s “damaging” TV interview. See Troy’s response.

Townsville City councillors being sworn into office in April 2024. CEO Prins Ralston (front left) resigned two weeks later. Picture: Evan Morgan

Troy Thompson has lost the confidence of all of his councillors, with all 10 of them calling for him to step down.

This follows Mr Thompson’s explosive interview with A Current Affair where he revealed he was not truthful with voters in the lead up to the election.

He admitted to misleading voters about his education, business nous and military career, blaming “100 plus” concussions on his poor memory.

In an open letter from councillors, read to media outside council chambers by Cr Suzy Batkovic, they called on Mr Thompson to resign.

A majority of Townsville City Councillors have called on Troy Thompson to resign or be suspended at the next council meeting. Photo: Daniel Shirkie.

“You have lost the confidence of us as councillors and the community who believe that its political leaders should be open and transparent, and especially the serving and ex-servicemen and women of a proud Garrison city,” they said.

“If you do not resign we will move a motion at next week’s council meeting calling for the Minister for Local Governemnt to suspend you pending the outcome of ongoing investigations.

“We hope that you do the right thing for Townsville and resign and move on to deal with whatever issues led you into this predicament.”

The letter was signed by deputy mayor Paul Jacob and councillors Suzy Batkovic, Ann-Maree Greaney, Brodie Phillips, Brady Ellis, Kurt Rehbein, Vera Dirou, Liam Mooney, Kristian Price and Andrew Robinson.

In his ACA interview Mr Thompson said he never graduated from any of the degrees he listed as part of achievements during the campaign and it has also been alleged that he had previously been fined for two counts ‘forgery uttering’ and attempted fraud in the Southport Magistrates Court in 2007.

First claiming he didn’t know anything about it, he later said the charges were over a credit application using a different surname. No conviction was recorded for the offences.

This comes after revelations about his military service, where it was found he had not served in some the units he had originally claimed.

Issuing a statement to the Townsville Bulletin Friday afternoon, Mr Thompson said: “While I’m disappointed some councillors have been influenced and taken this approach, I look forward to addressing the matter in the next ordinary council meeting”.

The next council meeting will be held next Wednesday, June 5.

Originally published as Townsville councillors call for Mayor Troy Thompson to resign