Townsville’s deputy mayor frustrated at mediating internal council tensions

Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob has voiced frustration at being a mediator in Townsville’s council drama, saying it’s taking time away from his own division’s issues.

Townsville City Council’s Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob, Cr Brodie Phillips, Cr Ann-Maree Greaney and Cr Kristian Price deliberate in an ordinary council meeting. Picture: Evan Morgan

A state appointed adviser is a measured response which could alleviate the toxicity between Townsville City Council’s warring sides, according to councillors.

Councillors said they know next to no details on how the state appointed adviser would work, who is expected to attend ordinary council meetings from a date yet to be determined, amid Mayor Troy Thompson’s conflict against his 10 councillors.

For months the relationships have festered, with some councillors making efforts to be more neutral peacekeepers and to take on a ‘business as usual’ approach.

However, they reached their lowest point last week when Mr Thompson claimed three councillors accepted undeclared gifts.

What was more baffling was how the council’s chief legal officer instantly rejected the Mayor’s claims as false.

The 11 councillors and mayor were asked if they supported the state’s level of intervention and whether they expected it would impact how they operate.

Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob said there is much anger in the community over the council’s internal tensions, which he said was getting in the way of Division 1’s needs, which he is meant to represent. He sits next to Division 2 councillor Brodie Phillips. Picture: Evan Morgan

The general consensus was Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon’s decision to appoint an adviser was necessary, but restrained.

Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob said the adviser would “cool a lot of heads here in council”.

Mr Jacob said he did not expect any further action while the Crime and Corruption Commission was yet to make a decision on its investigation into Mayor Thompson or before the state election held in October.

But he said there was much pressure and anger from the Townsville community expecting a faster resolution.

Queensland Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon during parliament in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“This is the first step of getting this done properly,” Mr Jacob said.

“It’s the topic of conversation, no matter where you go.

“This has always taken me quite a bit from being a divisional councillor to trying to sit in the middle and mediate between the councillors and the mayor, which is taking up my time, and it has been reducing the time with the people who need me the most, and that is the ones in my division.”

Councillor Andrew Robinson said the Minister’s decision to intervene had shown she “hasn’t simply forgotten about us”. He said an adviser was a measured response. Picture: Evan Morgan

Division 10 councillor Brady Ellis warned it could be “a long drawn out process” as he supported the minister’s intervention.

“Whatever it costs, it’s going to be better than the alternative, the alternative is scary … absolute chaos,” Mr Ellis said.

Division 8 councillor Andrew Robinson, who recently slammed the Mayor’s private interactions with councillors, said the Minister’s intervention showed she “hasn’t simply forgotten about us and put into a corner.”

Councillor Vera Dirou said she was concerned how much a state government adviser could impact this year’s financial budget. She had no details of the potential financial impacts. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The problem that I guess we have is if we look at left-of-scale, which is do nothing, and then right-of-scale, which is to appoint an administrator, I think it’s a reasonable action.

“It’s good because it should give the minister direct input from an independent source as to what’s happening here in council.”

Division 5 councillor Vera Dirou backed the state government’s “proactive approach” but hoped it would lead to genuine change.

Councillor Kurt Rehbein was focused on the impacts of a paid parking rollout throughout the city. Picture: Evan Morgan

She was worried the ratepayer would be burdened by the cost of the state government’s appointment.

“As always, our budget is of great concern, so, well, it’s the top of my priority list, because we want to deliver,” she said.

“What we’re paid to do is deliver those services to our community, and so obviously, we have to balance our budget to be able to do that.

Councillor Kristian Price arrives at an ordinary council meeting. Picture: Evan Morgan

“I have not advised of what the costings will actually be.”

Division 7 councillor Kurt Rehbein said additional support from outside the council would send a positive message to the broader community.

“It provides the community with assurance there’s another level of oversight with this council as well,” he said.

“There’s been a fair bit of turmoil in the last few months, and certainly the feedback I’m getting from community is the council as a whole has dropped the ball in terms of listening to its community.

“You have only got to look at the paid parking issue for an example of this.”

Division 4 councillor Kristian Price said the adviser would hold the mayor to account, who was supposed to improve the city’s economy and to attract investors.

He said the advisory role was the first step in a process to resolve the council’s situation.

“I think Meaghan Scanlon and the CCC, they all know what’s going on, so I think this had to happen so they can see how it’s all going.

“We (councillors) all work as a team, that’s the good thing about us, we’re united in what we do and we work for the betterment of the city, we’ve always been doing that all the time.”

Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said “I hope that adviser starts soon.

“I think it is a really positive move for a state-appointed adviser to work with council, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” she said.

“I don’t think it will change how the majority of councillors engage and operate.”

Mr Thompson, and councillors Suzy Batkovic, Liam Mooney and Brodie Phillips did not respond to comment.

Mr Phillips was on leave, while Mr Mooney last week blasted a list of 19 demands that Mr Thompson emailed councillors last week as he sought their unconditional support.

Originally published as Townsville’s deputy mayor frustrated at mediating internal council tensions