Steve Price calls on Mayor Troy Thompson to stand down for ‘betterment of the city’

Steve “Pricey” Price says the mayor saga is “a pity” for the city in which he takes immense pride, saying Troy Thompson is not fit to be Townsville mayor.

Steve “Pricey” Price says the mayor saga is “a pity” for the city in which he takes immense pride, saying Troy Thompson is not fit to be Townsville mayor.

The radio legend attended Wednesday morning’s meeting to watch the council in action, weighing in on Premier Steven Miles’ decision to stand Mayor Thompson down.

“We voted this man in, the majority voted him in so we’ve got to fight for democracy … unfortunately perhaps leading up to that democratic decision, the facts were not quite right,” Pricey said.

“Why didn’t that happen beforehand? Why wasn’t it checked? To be mayor of this city it is an honour.

“I can’t blame the pollies for making that decision but what a pity it’s got to that.

Asked if he believed Mr Thompson was fit to be mayor, he said “no”.

“Mayor Thompson has proved that perhaps he should step down or renew himself. Put his hand up and say ‘I did this’, that’s what he has to do. But he’s not going to do that and so the other thing has to go.”

Steve Price at Townsville City Council general meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Pricey said the mayor had a responsibility to think about what’s best for Townsville, including who leads it.

“If he said that he wants to be mayor of this city, if it’s not working then he has to think of the betterment of this city … perhaps he stands aside and it’ll all get looked at,” he said.

The Townsville resident of more than 40 years said seeing what was happening within his local council was “sad”.

“It breaks my heart. Obviously many mayors have had the honour of working for all of us from a voluntary point of view to promote this city,” Pricey said.

“We pay for what’s going on behind that door for them to look after us, to do positive things to make a great life. I believe they can.”

Steve Price and Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney. Picture: Shae Beplate.

He said he had a lot of faith in all 10 Townsville councillors.

“They’ve got the city at heart. These councillors are not working for their time, but they are working for a legacy for the future of this city.”

Pricey also addressed the mayor’s claims it was just a vendetta by a Labor government and who he claims are “Labor councillors”.

“My thoughts on politics is that it shouldn’t be on the other side of that door. What they’re working for is you and not what happens in the south east corner,” he said.

“It’s what happens out in Kirwan, what happens down on The Strand, what happens everywhere in this part of the world, that’s what they’re working for. So I don’t think (state) politics has a place there.”

Originally published as Steve Price calls on Mayor Troy Thompson to stand down for ‘betterment of the city’