What happens next: Troy Thompson CCC investigation and powers of the government

The Local Government Minister has the power to remove Troy Thompson if he is found to have breached council laws. See what could happen next.

Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Richard Walker

Queensland’s Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon has the power to oust Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson if he is found to have breached council laws.

Speaking this week alongside the minister, Premier Steven Miles said the allegations Mr Thompson embellished his resume to land the city’s top job were “very, very serious”.

“Nobody should ever lie about their qualifications, least of all claims of military service, least of all in a place like Townsville,” Mr Miles said.

“Now that it’s referred to the CCC (Crime and Corruption Commission) we should let them assess whether it should be investigated.

“If further steps need to be taken from there, well, I’m sure Minister Scanlon is well briefed on what that looks like.”

Ms Scanlon said her department referred the concerns to the Office of the Independent Assessor but that “because the alleged conduct occurred before the mayor was elected as a councillor, it was out of scope for the OIA so they referred it to the CCC”.

“Any findings we’ll obviously consider but I don’t want to pre-empt the CCC’s decision,” Ms Scanlon said.

Townsville mayor Troy Thompson on A Current Affair. Image: Channel 9

However, the Townsville Bulletin can reveal the OIA is now considering taking further action under the Local Government Act since it was pointed out that Mr Thompson also made the exaggerated claims of his military service after being sworn in as mayor.

Speaking to the Bulletin and the ABC on Anzac Day, Mr Thompson again claimed he spent ‘five or six years’ in the army across three different units — a claim that has since been quashed.

Under the Local Government Act, the assessor may also decide to make an application to the conduct tribunal to take the matter further.

It also states a person “automatically stops being a councillor” when the person is convicted of an electoral offence, an integrity offence or serious integrity offence.

When considering an electoral offence, under the title ‘misleading voters’, the Electoral Act states “a person must not for the purpose of affecting the election of a candidate, knowingly publish a false statement of fact regarding the personal character or conduct of the candidate”.

Minister Scanlon also has powers, pending investigations, with the Act saying she can step in if “the Minister reasonably believes it is otherwise in the public interest that a councillor be suspended or dismissed”.

If Mr Thompson is found at any stage to be ineligible to continue as mayor, or the Local Government Minister steps in, a by-election will be held.

Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob would be named Acting Mayor until a replacement is voted in.

Originally published as What happens next: Troy Thompson CCC investigation and powers of the government