Troy Thompson sworn in as Mayor of Townsville

New deputy mayor revealed as councillors vote down move by new Mayor they believe is not transparent.

Team Change candidate Paul Jacob has been voted in as deputy mayor via a public vote despite a push to conduct a secret ballot.

Councillors, including Mr Jacob, shut down a push by Townsville’s new mayor Troy Thompson to conduct a secret ballot to determine who the deputy mayor would be.

The new council opposed this decision with the exception of Kristian Price and Andrew Robinson, with councillors saying they wanted to ensure transparency and openness in their decision making.

Mr Jacob was voted in as deputy mayor but the vote was tightly contested against Team Jenny Hill candidate Ann-Maree Greaney.

Ms Greaney would have won the vote but Team Jenny Hill candidate Kurt Rehbein voted for Mr Jacob instead.

He won the vote five to six.

Mr Jacob’s position was supported by Mr Thompson, Mr Rehbein, Andrew Robinson, Kristian Price, and Vera Dirou.

Cr Greaney’s candidacy was supported by Suzy Batkovic, Liam Mooney, Brady Ellis, and Brodie Phillips.

Mr Rehbein said he made his decision because the community “sent a message loud and clear” at the local government election on March 16.

“I’ve always listened to the community I’m elected to represent,” he said.

“The mayor has his deputy mayor now and I look forward to working with all councillors in the chamber on delivering for my community in Division 7 and Townsville more broadly.

“That is how I went into this.”

Mr Rehbein said “that’s old news” when asked if the Team Jenny Hill mentality still existed.

“I think the results of the election showed that and I think today’s vote also shows that there’s a group of independents in the chamber now working together for Townsville,” he said.

But the length of the time of Mr Jacob’s new position is ambiguous to councillors, as Mr Thompson mentioned in the special meeting he would like to renew the position by vote each year.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers. Townsville City Council CEO Prins Ralston and Mayor Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

Both Mr Jacob and Ms Greaney opposed the mayor’s pitch to conduct the ballot by secret vote.

Mr Jacob said such a ballot would “not show our community and the people of Townsville transparency that is required to let them know how these councillors voted for this position.”

Cr Greaney said Townsville wanted to know what their councillors supported.

“The councillors are sitting around this table based off a platform of openness and transparency, so I’m not supporting the secret ballot.”

Division 8’s new councillor Mr Robinson advocated the secret ballot and said only the outcome of the council’s vote was what mattered.

“Regardless of how the councillors vote, at the end of the day we will adopt whatever position the council agrees on,” he said.

“And therefore to my mind it is irrelevant whether the vote is 1-7 or something else.

“The transparency is that we are conducting a vote and that residents can see we have gone through this proposal.”

After the meeting Ms Greaney said she did not believe the first item on the council’s agenda should have been in determining a secret ballot, given that the community made it clear that it endorsed a platform of transparency.

“It was nice to see that all the councillors really didn’t want a secret ballot, so that’s reassuring going forward.”

Ms Greaney said she wanted the deputy mayor role because she wanted Townsville to grow, and because she believed as a third-term councillor she had the expertise that qualified her for the role.

“To say I’m disappointed, you know, is probably an understatement,” she said.

Ms Greaney said it was confusing that the mayor would like to change the deputy mayor position in the future, and said that keeping a deputy mayor was important for council stability.

“See, I’m a third term councillor and I’ve never in my time seen that,” she said.

“I do find it an interesting concept, probably one that I’m not supportive of because I believe the role of the deputy mayor should go hand in glove with the tenure of the mayor.”

Mr Jacob said the council would be united but also a dynamic one, and he said the debate within the chamber showed “the health of the council”.

“Even though we didn’t all come together to vote for one particular deputy mayor today, it sort of shows its going to be unity in this council, that’s what I feel anyway,” Mr Jacob said.

Mr Jacob said he was confused at first by the one-year deputy mayor terms, but that this position could typically be replaced at any time within the chamber anyway.

“It was like a rotational process that Troy’s trying to do to get inexperienced people experience in a role that has a lot more responsibility in with it,” he said.

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

New Mayor seeks changes to how deputy mayor appointed

The newly sworn mayor Troy Thompson would like to see the deputy mayor role be contested every year and voted on anonymously within the chamber.

The swearing in ceremony for Townsville’s 47th mayor and his councillors was held on Wednesday morning, while a special meeting to determine the deputy mayor would be held later in the day.

Mr Thompson said he had asked the chief executive to change how the deputy mayor role was considered, so that new councillors could develop their knowledge and be considered for the role later in the term.

He said in a press conference after his swearing in ceremony that these changes would be up to the councillors to decide.

“I’ve had some councillors come to me and say they’re comfortable to elect somebody but they would have liked an opportunity to put their name forward but aren’t as experienced at council moments at the moment,” Mr Thompson said.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers. New Townsville City Council Mayor Troy Thompson with his mother Jan Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

“And whilst they might fit a lot of the portfolios they just want to learn their job first.”

An incumbent deputy mayor could still put themselves forward for re-election.

“It doesn’t mean you rotate all the time but councils get used to a type of deputy mayor and it’s not a compulsory act to have a deputy mayor for four years, a lot of councils are going that way.” he said.

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

Mr Thompson would also like to see committee representatives sitting to the side within the chamber formally be part of the council meeting.

The 10 councillors are mixed between newcomers and those who served in the previous term under Jenny Hill, while a returning councillor, Division 1 candidate Paul Jacob, openly declared his intentions to run for the supporting role.

The Townsville City Council chamber was filled with media, family and friends witnessing the swearing in of the 47th unique mayor of Townsville Troy Thompson and the 10 divisional councillors.

This included Mr Thompson’s mother Janet, who said the new mayor had the qualities to serve the community.

“He never gives up, and he usually wins,” Mrs Thompson said.

“He’s been everywhere and whatever he has done, he has been wonderful, an excellent son,” Mrs Thompson said.

The investiture of newly elected Townsville City Councillors at the council chambers. Picture: Evan Morgan

She said her husband Keith ‘Butch’ Thompson would also have been proud to have witnessed the ceremony.

“I just wish my husband had still been alive,” she said.

“It would have been his day too as it is Troy’s.”

Chief executive Prins Ralston said to the chamber it was “an auspicious day” as it was only conducted every four years.

“It is a very formal but also for each of the individuals it is a special time and especially for the parties that came with the individuals.”

The room became solemn until proceedings began at 9am, with Mr Thompson sworn in at 9.04am.

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

As per protocol, Mr Thompson swore to faithfully and impartially fulfil his duties to the best of his abilities, as did each councillor in accordance with the local government act.

Among witnesses was former mayoral candidate Fran O’Callaghan, who said “I’m just delighted to be here.”

The ceremony finished at 9.25am.

The Townsville City Council is made up of:

Mayor: Troy Thompson

Division 1: Paul Jacob

Division 2: Brodie Phillips

Division 3: Ann-Maree Greaney

Division 4: Kristian Price

Division 5: Vera Dirou

Division 6: Suzy Batkovic

Division 7: Kurt Rehbein

Division 8: Andrew Robinson

Division 9: Liam Mooney

Division 10: Brady Ellis

Originally published as Troy Thompson sworn in as Mayor of Townsville