Troy Thompson: Parliamentary committee finds suspension as mayor legal

A parliamentary committee has found that Troy Thompson’s suspension as Townsville mayor did not breach his rights.

Townsville City Council meeting September 4, 2024. Mayor Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

A parliamentary committee has found that Troy Thompson’s suspension as Townsville mayor did not breach his human rights.

The Local Government, Small Business and Customer Service Committee, in a written report dated April, 2025, explored Local Government Minister Ann Leahy’s decision to suspend the embattled politician with full pay for a year as of November 22, 2024.

The suspension, agreed to by Mr Thompson, came after a series of scandals involving the then mayor, including allegations he embellished details about his military service and university qualifications.

Mr Thompson, also formerly known as Troy Birnbrauer, has previously apologised for the alleged inaccuracies in his claims about his service, saying a number of concussions had had a detrimental impact on his memory.

His claims about his background are the subject of an ongoing investigation by Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) Queensland.

Mr Thompson, who no longer speaks to the media, was understood to be mounting a legal defence to the allegations.

Troy Thompson during his mayoral campaign. Picture: Supplied

The committee found that Ms Leahy’s course of action did not breach principles of natural justice in that Mr Thompson had been given sufficient opportunity in which to respond to his proposed suspension, which she believed was “in the public interest to do so”.

It said Mr Thompson did respond to former Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon invitation to do so on October 21 last year, just before the state elections.

Ms Leahy said that following her appointment as minister, Mr Thompson made an additional submission on November 20.

“In his submission, councillor Thompson advised that he was willing to accept the proposal to recommend to the Governor-in-Council that he be suspended from office for a period of 12 months,” the committee wrote.

“In considering all relevant factors, including councillor Thompson’s acceptance of the proposal and the ability of Townsville City Council to perform is responsibilities in an efficient and effective way, I determined that it was in the public interest to recommend … that the Governor-in-Council suspend Councillor Thompson for a period of 12 months.”

Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers Ann Leahy in North Queensland recently. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Thompson is still receiving a Townsville ratepayer-funded salary of more than $225,000 per year.

The committee noted the Impact Analysis Statement stated that the suspension was appropriate to allow the “relevant integrity agencies to finalise their investigations of allegations made against Councillor Thompson”.

In addition to natural justice, the committee found that the decision was compatible with the Human Rights Act.

“The committee notes that the authority to suspend a councillor by regulation is provided for in section 122 of the (Local Government Act) and is satisfied that the suspension is reasonable, necessary and proportionate.”

Originally published as Troy Thompson: Parliamentary committee finds suspension as mayor legal