Suspended Townsville mayor ‘absolutely refutes’ allegations

Suspended Townsville mayor Troy Thompson says he absolutely refutes “any and all” of the allegations that led to his 12-month stand-down, including embellishing his military and university records.

Townsville City Council Mayor Troy Thompson and Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob being sworn in earlier this year. Picture: Evan Morgan

Townsville mayor Troy Thompson says he “absolutely refutes” the allegations that led to him being suspended for a year on full pay from his job leading the north Queensland city, after he allegedly lied about his military and education history.

New Queensland Liberal National Party local government minister Ann Leahy on Thursday afternoon confirmed she had signed a regulation that suspended the mayor from duty for 12 months, adding that he had “agreed” to be suspended.

“The Premier (David Crisafulli) made it clear Mr Thompson’s position was untenable and I want to thank Mr Thompson for recognising this situation,” Ms Leahy said.

Mr Thompson, who was elected as the mayor of Australia’s largest garrison city in March, was referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission in May after allegedly lying about his military career, university and business qualifications during the local government elections.

The anti-corruption watchdog is also understood to be probing allegations that Mr Thompson accepted political donations linked to property developers.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday morning, Mr Thompson said he was “disappointed” and said he “absolutely refuted any and all allegations that have been made to date and will rightfully defend my position through the legal system”.

“As disappointed as I am, this has set a precedent for councillors across Queensland, that the state government may suspend a democratically elected member without a proper judicial process taking place,” he said.

“Once the 12 month suspension is completed and I am cleared of all allegations, I look forward to returning to the role of mayor, as democratically elected by the people of Townsville.”

In the final hours of the Miles government and just before the caretaker period started, then Labor minister Meaghan Scanlon issued him with a show cause notice and said he had three weeks to respond as to why he should not be suspended.

At the time, Mr Thompson described it as a “political hit job” and said he rejected every allegation in Ms Scanlon’s letter.

Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob will serve as acting mayor.

In May, Mr Thompson gave an extraordinary television interview in which he admitted to A Current Affair that he had misled voters about his military service, including that he had served in three army units over five years. He told the television program that he’d only served three years as a reservist, and largely as a cook.

He had also boasted he’d completed two university degrees, despite later admitting he had not finished either.

Mr Thompson blamed the discrepancies on memory loss due to “100-plus” concussions and epilepsy.

New Townsville City Council Mayor Troy Thompson with his mother Jan Thompson at the council chambers when the new councillors were sworn in. Picture: Evan Morgan

In October, then opposition leader David Crisafulli said he would be willing to consider striking a deal over Mr Thompson’s suspension or removal, subject to being given access to the government’s legal advice.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith welcomed the new government’s decisive action, but cautioned against overuse of the legislative powers that enable for the suspension of an elected mayor.

“We thank the Minister for the transparent way in which she has approached this issue,” Ms Smith said.

“The LGAQ maintains its view that the provisions under the Local Government Act that allow for the suspension or dismissal of a mayor, councillor or council ‘in the public interest’ are extraordinary provisions.

“We call on the new state government to review these provisions, as was initially promised by the former government when these powers were first introduced in 2018.”

The provision within the legislation was introduced by the former Palaszczuk government in 2018 to give the government the ability to sack the Ipswich City Council, which was embroiled in an “integrity crisis”.