State Government to appoint special adviser to help Townsville City Council amid ongoing turmoil

Townsville City Council is set to receive a special adviser in the coming weeks, following tensions within the chamber that could potentially lead to more drastic measures. But what does the appointment mean for the council and its future?

Townsville City Council meeting September 4, 2024. Picture: Evan Morgan

An administrator charged with operating Townsville City Council and its essential services could be appointed until an election was called, if the State Government decided to dissolve the chamber and start again.

But the Local Government Act outlines a lengthy process to get to that point, and would require approval from the Governor and the Queensland Parliament to dissolve the council.

Councillors including Liam Mooney claim that Mayor Troy Thompson recently submitted a list of demands to councillors and said that if they did not meet them, he would urge Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon to dissolve the council and replace it in a by-election.

Harry Bruce's cartoon in the Townsville Bulleton on September 6.

It is understood that a source within the council submitted the letter to Ms Scanlon, which prompted her to announce a state government adviser would be appointed in coming weeks.

The State Government had the legislative power to dissolve a council if Ms Scanlon believed it had “seriously or continuously breached the local government principles” or if she believed it was incapable of performing its duties.

But from there she would have to make recommendations to the Governor in Council to take action and appoint an interim administrator, while also getting the parliament to vote to dissolve the council.

If the parliament approved, a by-election would be held “as soon as practicable”.

In the meantime, the interim administrator would have all the responsibilities of the council and its mayor, and the minister may create an advisory committee to give the interim administrator advice about the performance of the local government’s responsibilities.

Originally published as State Government to appoint special adviser to help Townsville City Council amid ongoing turmoil