Suspended Mayor Troy Thompson ‘armed’ with competitions, giveaways and criticism

Suspended Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson and his partner have pivoted their social media platform, funding giveaways to his supporters with his taxpayer-funded salary.

Mayor Troy Thompson. Townsville City Council meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Suspended Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson and his partner Michelle Blythe have pivoted what was formerly the mayor’s social media profile, handing out vouchers worth hundreds of dollars paid for through his taxpayer-funded salary.

In the past month, the mayor’s new brand ‘Our Community Matters’ has hosted competitions to their followers by presenting prepaid Eftpos, Perfect and Bunnings gift cards valued at about $500 in the past month.

Mr Thompson is suspended on full pay for 12 months while a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation is held against him; accruing a salary of more than $225,000 a year paid for by the ratepayer.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy said she made the decision to issue a 12 month paid suspension to Mr Thompson, which he says he requested.

But on Sunday he said “there are no grounds to dismiss me, suspend me, I’d prefer to be in office not benched, as there is nothing but assertions, and allegations that I refute.”

Mayor Troy Thompson before being suspended from his position as Townsville’s mayor. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Thompson confirmed the vouchers were being paid for by Mr Thompson and Ms Blythe, although one voucher handed out through the page in December was supplied by a finance and insurance business advertised in one of Mr Thompson’s posts.

“All vouchers we pay for out of our personal finances,” Mr Thompson said.

“Any gifts given are given to our community layer and 100 per cent of these go directly to the community.

Councillor Brodie Phillips. Townsville City Council general meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We do not ask businesses or individuals to do this, they do this to support their community as an act of kindness.”

Under the new label, Mr Thompson and Ms Blythe said they would also host pop-up stalls at community events where they would be “armed with petitions, (a) suggestion/opinions box, competitions, giveaway items and more.”

But while they intended a pop-up stall to be held at Willows Rotary Markets on Sunday, they were not present, saying instead that their appearance had to be rescheduled.

The suspended mayor has also used his page within the past week to evaluate each division’s issues, having so far worked his way through the first five divisions.

But he has also returned to his call for a rate freeze, which he had campaigned on, but then backflipped on due to financial reasons as soon as his win in the local government election was confirmed.

Councillor Vera Dirou at the Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

In his new posts, the suspended mayor, who has an income of more than $4000 a week, indicated a rate freeze was possible but said the council should focus on basic issues rather than on large infrastructure projects that were typically the responsibility of state and federal governments.

“With the time in office and now time out of office, I have had time to discuss with our community what really matters,” Mr Thompson said.

“Lansdown, Northern Railyards, NQ Spark should only be state or federal funded only.

“Both TEL and Smart Precinct NQ should be self-sufficient agencies, and not dependent on TCC funding, they are not a necessity at this point in time, and all of the community I have spoken with, are of the same opinion.”

Councillors have expressed annoyance at the suspended mayor’s posts, who they all previously voted no confidence in, but Division 5 councillor Vera Dirou has labelled “drama” relating to Mr Thompson as “background noise”.

She said Mr Thompson was a member of the public who could do what he wanted, while she also advocated free speech.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers. New Townsville City Council Mayor Troy Thompson with partner Michelle Blythe. Picture: Evan Morgan

While it could be “upsetting” seeing Townsville’s reputation being affected with such posts, she said the council was trying to move on with it and represent the community.

“This is background noise, this is external drama, it’s unfortunate.

“It has given Townsville bad publicity which is a big concern of mine.

Townsville's suspended mayor Troy Thompson promotes giveaways including a $100 Bunnings gift voucher.

“But at the end of the day, I believe all councillors have always just been interested in getting on with the job.”

Division 2 councillor Brodie Phillips attended the Willows Rotary Markets on Sunday while on holidays, where he said it was “disappointing” that the suspended mayor was attacking the council and the divisions on social media.

“All the councillors, we put our hand up to do this, right?” Mr Phillips said.

“Because we love the city, we love the community, and we want to contribute to it.

“So it’s disappointing to read that.”

Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr, who was at the Willows markets on Sunday to speak to constituents, was asked if Mr Thompson should be attending community events while on paid leave.

While not providing public comment to the question directly, Ms Marr said she was “looking forward” to working with the Townsville City Council.

“Three levels of government really need to work together to make sure that the city starts to thrive,” Ms Marr said.

Originally published as Suspended Mayor Troy Thompson ‘armed’ with competitions, giveaways and criticism