Troy Thompson: Former One Nation nominee running for Townsville mayor

A Townsville mayoral candidate has come out swinging against his opponent, saying the mayor is hindered with Labor Party “tunnel vision”.

Townsville man Troy Thompson will contest the mayoralty as an independent. Picture: Alix Sweeney

A Townsville mayoral candidate has come out swinging against his opponent, saying the mayor is hindered with Labor Party “tunnel vision”.

Troy Thompson made the comments bagging his opponent a few hours after filing his mayoral application on Thursday; Mr Thompson has put his hand up to run as an independent in the local government elections, to be held March 16.

Key policies of Mr Thompson’s include a four-year rate freeze which he says can be funded by hiring fewer consultants and slashing contributions to Townsville Enterprise Limited.

Associates at community and sporting organisations had urged Mr Thompson to run for mayor, he said.

The almost One Nation Thuringowa candidate is no stranger to politics; he says he stepped down from the state election race in 2020, however the Bulletin reported One Nation disendorsed him.

Pauline Hanson and One Nation Candidate for Thuringowa, Troy Thompson, in Townsville in 2020. Picture: Alix Sweeney

This week Mr Thompson got on the front foot against incumbent mayor Jenny Hill.

Party allegiances led to “tunnel vision”, Mr Thompson said, and hindered Cr Hill’s ability to act independently for the city.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Mayor Jenny Hill at a hydrogen funding announcement in Townsville this week. Picture: Evan Morgan

In response Cr Hill said “I’m happy to compare my record against anyone”.

The mayor worked with all sides of politics and it was easy to “shout from the sidelines”.

Spending less on consultants and contractors would take money away from local mowing, maintenance and design firms, the mayor said.

Councillor Fran O’Callaghan had intended to run for mayor, but on Friday announced she was withdrawing for health reasons.

Division 10 councillor Fran O'Callaghan formally launched her campaign to be Townsville's next mayor, in March 2023. On Friday she withdrew from the contest, citing health reasons. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I’m running because I love this city and I can change it for the better. And I know how to do it because I’m a businessperson,” Mr Thompson said.

Alongside the four-year rate freeze, Mr Thompson says he will install more crime-prevention cameras, hold regular town hall meetings to gauge performance and install more disability car parks.

An operations manager for a Townsville-owned mining support company, Mr Thompson has had a varied and colourful career.

Troy Thompson says he is not a member of any political party. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Kirwan State High School provided his secondary education, he enlisted in the Army, then worked overseas with supply chain and software companies before returning to Townsville to care for his father.

In 2020 he stood alongside Pauline Hanson as One Nation’s candidate for Thuringowa. But weeks before the election he “withdrew”.

It came to light a business Mr Thompson was running had gone insolvent, and that he had changed his name. Mr Thompson this week said the business was in a worse state before he got involved, and following a divorce he re-took his family name.

While Mr Thompson said Cr Hill’s Labor membership meant connections with state and federal governments now, he said the mayor’s political ties detracted from independent stewardship.

“People are telling me that’s their preference (for mayor), someone that’s not party-aligned… I haven’t been a member of a party for a very long time and I don’t intend to be.”

Originally published as Troy Thompson: Former One Nation nominee running for Townsville mayor