Summary of Townsville City Council’s first 100 days

Townsville City Council’s first 100 days have been a rollercoaster of drama and political fireworks. From revelations of huge cost blowouts to a CCC investigation. Let’s take a look back at all the twists and turns so far.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson in the council chambers as he takes an usual decision to remove media from the room during an open council discussion. Mr Thompson later said he only asked that cameras and recording devices be removed, which he is entitled to enforce under local laws. Picture: Evan Morgan

It has been just over 100 days since the Townsville City Council was sworn in, and in that brief time, Mayor Troy Thompson’s leadership has come under fire from the highest echelons of government.

Both the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier have separately expressed concerns over his performance.

Mr Thompson, who is being investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission following revelations he made misleading claims about his military service on the campaign trail, has faced an avalanche of challenges since taking office.

His troubles began just two days into his tenure with the abrupt resignation of the council’s CEO and were compounded when all of his fellow councillors voted that they had no confidence in him.

Last week the situation took a national turn when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Townsville.

During a press conference, he didn’t hold back, describing Mayor Thompson as “a bit distracted at the moment.”

“I have been following the rather bizarre revelations from the right wing Mayor in Townsville … I don’t know what is going on,” Mr Albanese said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the Townsville Port, where he described the mayor as “right wing”. Picture: Evan Morgan

The Mayor referenced the 100-day milestone on Facebook and emphasised a “shared vision” involving world-class events, new developments, and maintaining the essentials.

“Together, we are sharing ideas, voicing our opinions, and creating a better Townsville for all by joining forces for the good of everyone.”

From the council operations perspective, a council spokesman said it focused on the core services expected by the community, recognised the councillors completing their mandatory training, and the adoption of the 2024-25 budget.

Townsville City Council meeting vote of no confidence in Mayor Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

This is a summary of the first 100 days in the Thompson led Townsville City Council:

The Other Guy

Early this year a disendorsed One Nation candidate who previously ran for the state seat of Thuringowa declared he would run against the long-running mayor Jenny Hill.

During the campaign Mr Thompson claimed he served as a soldier, and even served with the SAS while he was interviewed in a vlog from North Queensland Freedom Network.

Mr Thompson attacked Team Jenny Hill mentality in his campaign and said he prided himself on independency.

The day after the election, Troy Thompson meets and is photographed in front of the council chambers, as he leads in the count. At the time he said it was too early to call the election, but that regardless, the tightly contested results sent a clear message to the council administration. Picture: Chris Burns

On election day many of the Team Jenny Hill candidates were knocked out, including Margie Ryder and Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino, with Mr Thompson claiming an election mandate built on transparency and honesty.

He conceded he was elected because voters lashed out at Ms Hill, and that he was “the other guy”.

The council’s swearing in ceremony was held, and the new council included six newcomers including former Hill supporter Paul Jacob, while Team Hill candidates Suzy Batkovic and Kurt Rehbein, both uncontested, Ann Maree Greaney and Liam Mooney returned.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill and some Team Jenny Hill members Ben Fusco, Shari Fabbro and Rachael Armstrong at the Townsville Cruise Terminal during their election campaign. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Thompson’s first decision was to change the deputy mayor position so that it was contested annually, and so councillors could vote for their preferred option anonymously.

Councillors voted against the secretive nature of the anonymous ballot box idea, but elected Mr Jacob for the next year over Ann Maree Greaney.

Within two days of the swearing in ceremony, chief executive Prins Ralston announced his resignation, and on Anzac Day Mr Thompson told the Bulletin they both had different views about council operations as a “clean sweep” of executives was happening within the transition.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers. Townsville City Council’s former CEO Prins Ralston and Mayor Troy Thompson shake hands during the swearing in ceremony. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Hundred plus concussions”

Mr Thompson recommended the council hold its ordinary meetings twice a month, which would make discussions more efficient.

He also sought three undisclosed political advisers to join the council payroll, but this bid was blocked three times by councillors.

The council appointed Joe McCabe from outside the council to fill the interim CEO role while a permanent candidate was chosen.

The council’s interim-CEO Joe McCabe arrives at a recent council meeting. Picture: Evan Morgan

Concerns in the community were increasingly raised about Mr Thompson’s military claims, with the Townsville Bulletin repeatedly asking the mayor if he had medals of his own and if he could recall his service number.

Mr Thompson could not provide his service number, and given his claims that he served in the 109 Signals in Perth, 105 Signals in Fremantle and 152 Signals Swanbourne for more than four years, as well as in the SAS.

Following an investigation, the Townsville Bulletin revealed the details of Mr Thompson’s service record, showing that he had not served for multiple years across the three units as he’d previously claimed.

In truth, the mayor spent less than six months undertaking entry-level training within the army reserves over a period of two and a half years.
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.

The matter was then referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission after Mr Thompson held an interview with A Current Affair during which he apologised to veterans for embellishing his service, and blamed his poor memory on a “hundred plus concussions”.

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson delivering his address at the 2024 Anzac Day Dawn Service at Anzac Park, The Strand, as he wears his father’s medals. Picture: Evan Morgan

He also acknowledged he never completed university despite previously claiming he was a business graduate.

All 10 councillors rose against him and urged him to resign as they believed he had lost the community’s confidence.

Mr Thompson took leave, at the time saying it was due to his declining mental health, and warned on social media that those who had done him wrong should be “very concerned”.

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

Councillors divided up Mr Thompson’s portfolios between them, Mr Jacob stepped forward as Acting Mayor and key council representative while councillor Ann-Maree Greaney chaired the council meetings.

Mr Thompson accused councillors of overstepping their bounds, and security guards of blocking him from entering the building while he was on his leave of absence.

Premier Steven Miles said the city was being held “to ransom” by the Mayor and said he should think “long and hard” about the impact he was having on the city by remaining in his role.

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

The state budget also revealed $35m would also be set aside for the council led North Rail Yards housing project.

Parking meters and project blowouts

The Townsville City Council adopted its 2024/25 annual budget, with the 10 councillors in the room supporting it unanimously.

Mr Thompson was absent from the room but it is understood he was involved in many of the budget discussions held behind closed doors.

Townsville City Council meeting vote of no confidence in Mayor Troy Thompson as Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob speaks on the issue. Picture: Evan Morgan

He later acknowledged that data was presented by executives but that this did not necessarily mean he made decisions or supported such information by his presence.

The $868.1m budget would increase rates of 5.1 per cent on average, which would equate to about $3.78 a week.

Its most controversial decision in the community was to increase parking fees by $1 an hour, and rollout new meters in North Ward, Pimlico, and South Townsville.

President of the Chamber of Commerce Miranda Mears has described the council's decision to implement paid parking on the Strand as a 'slap in the face'. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The budget also allocated $45m towards the second stage of the Haughton Pipeline, which had become controversial as the state government funded project originally was projected to cost $195m.

In 2021 this blew out to $274m, to which the council decided to make up the point of difference.

But Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, who is not related to the new mayor, blew the lid on the projections, saying this had blown out to $420m as he pushed the council to be transparent on its figures.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has lead criticism against the management and handling of the Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline in parliament as well as out of it. He said the money belonged to the people and that it had been mismanaged. Picture: Chris Burns

He laid the blame at the State Government and on the past council for rejecting the former LNP government’s funds, and the conditions that came with it.

“We did the business case which said you will save 10s of millions of dollars if you do stage one and stage two concurrently,” Mr Thompson said.

The interim-CEO Joe McCabe confirmed the figures were correct, and that there was a $150m shortfall, while a council spokesman confirmed the existing funds would complete the pipeline but not be enough to complete the pump station and electrical infrastructure.

Pipes are being laid for the 28km second stage of the Haughton Pipeline project. Picture: Supplied.

Meanwhile, the council knocked back the $60m Hilton Garden Inn proposal, which was to be built in the North Queensland Stadium Precinct on public owned land.

“Confusion and disarray”

Councillors had been taking a “business as usual” approach to their duties in the absence of their mayor, untilMr Thompson suddenly returned from leave and took over chairing the council meetings.

He has since consulted the public on Facebook asking their views on paid parking meters being rolled out at The Strand, as well as funds for fishing at Ross River Dam.

Local fishos Ian Moody and Graham Knight pretend that they're going fishing at Ross River Dam, while pointing out the local wildlife. that can be seen. Picture: Chris Burns.

While councillor Kurt Rehbein, in the latest meeting, pushed for councillors to put a pause on the parking meter rollout, the majority of councillors in a split six-five decision decided to continue with the policy.

And only this week, but technically past the 100 day milestone, Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Turner said the council needed to be more clear when it came to application processes, and petitions.

“There seems to be confusion and disarray in council chambers as to what is and isn’t accepted,” Ms Turner said.

Mr Thompson was contacted for comment with regards to his view on the events of Townsville City Council’s first 100 days under his leadership, and was asked about his ongoing investigation, and why he had returned to work early despite previously claiming he would not return until the matter was resolved.

He did not respond.

Originally published as Summary of Townsville City Council’s first 100 days