Townsville’s embattled mayor Troy Thompson to defend his leadership

Embattled mayor Troy Thompson has chaired his last council meeting before time runs out on responding to the State Government’s show-cause notice of a 12-month suspension – but he’s confident his personal lawyers can justify why he should stay.

Embattled Mayor Troy Thompson has chaired his last Townsville City Council meeting before time runs out on responding to the State Government’s show-cause notice – but he is confident his personal lawyers can justify why he should continue leading the city.

Mr Thompson believes the uncertainty of the state election, which indicates a swing towards LNP judging from polling at early voting centres, could also strengthen his case and weaken the political resolve directed against him.

This is despite both party leaders Steven Miles and David Crisafulli saying the mayor’s position was “untenable” while a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation is under way. No findings have yet been made.

The council’s performance is firmly on Mr Crisafulli’s radar amid his state election campaign, considering the Opposition leader’s political career began within the same council chamber.

This week’s council meeting was low-key and missing the verbal sprays and political explosions of the past, nor any last-minute or controversial proposals from Mr Thompson, perhaps because of the first-time presence of state-appointed mediator John Oberhardt.

John Oberhardt, state appointed adviser at the Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The mayor even issued a quiet “congratulations” to chief executive Joe McCabe in the first meeting since the CEO’s permanent appointment, despite publicly objecting to his candidacy during the recruitment process.

On the last night before caretaker mode Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon signed off on a decision to formally issue Mr Thompson a show-cause notice as to why he should not be removed from his position for 12 months while the CCC investigated him.

She said the last-minute decision was made, despite declaring a state appointed adviser weeks before, because of additional confidential evidence made against him last minute.

Of more than 1450 people who responded to a Townsville Bulletin poll, 81% said Troy Thompson should be permanently removed by the Local Government Minister.

Just 1% believed he should only be suspended for 12 months, and 16% believed the Minister should take no action and he deserved to see out his four-year term.

The CCC is investigating a number of matters surrounding Mr Thompson, including his misrepresentations on his military, university and business qualifications as well as a number of campaign donations linked to property developers.

“A show-cause is exactly that, a show-cause, I’ve got a large document prepared by my lawyers to present to the minister which answers any issues that they may have identified,” Mr Thompson told the Bulletin on Wednesday.

“We’re pretty confident, but failing that, we do have a high court injunction ready to fire away on the 21st, which will nullify that show-cause notice until such a time as the minister provides the information that she’s made a determination on.

“To me it’s still politically motivated, and who knows, the minister may not be there herself come the end of the election.”

Even the source of Mr Thompson’s legal advice had been an issue of controversy, with speculation among high-level council sources that he was being advised by CQUniversity law graduate and former Thuringowa candidate Stephen Lane.

Mr Lane said he had worked with the mayor on media statements, attended at least one of his press conferences and criticised the Bulletin’s coverage of Mr Thompson as biased and inaccurate, but both deny he supplied legal advice.

Last month Mr Thompson said his advice was coming from Mills Oakley, but had not been able to provide it at short notice when called to do so by councillors to justify why he should be part of confidential discussions to determine the CEO appointment, given their conflict.

Mayor Troy Thompson at the Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Last Friday when Mr McCabe’s position was announced, several councillors including Mr Thompson met individually with the appointed adviser to address their concerns about the heated council dynamic.

He believed the adviser already influenced the ordinary and quiet council meeting.

“The adviser steadies the ship a bit and gives you a little bit of direction about what you can and can’t say, and maybe a little bit of advice as a mediator in between where he will take something to council or councillors or help in that decisioning before we get into the chamber,” Mr Thompson said.

Mr Thompson said he also accepted his council’s decision to appoint Mr McCabe and that collectively their intention was “just to get on with the job”.

Councillor Liam Mooney said he was yet to meet the state appointed adviser. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Councillor Liam Mooney was recently among councillors publicly criticising the mayor’s performance, reacting angrily to an email in which the mayor issued an ultimatum for them to support him unconditionally.

Mr Mooney said he had not yet had a chance to meet with Mr Oberhardt to discuss his concerns, but said “in my opinion” the council dynamic had been calmer since.

“But from what I’ve seen so far he’s professional, he’s fantastic, knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s here to make sure that we do our jobs,” Mr Mooney said.

He wasn’t sure if the mayor had conducted his last meeting, considering the show-cause notice was due next week.

“I’m not assuming that will be the case … we’re just taking it a day at a time still and whatever happens, happens,” Mr Mooney said.

Originally published as Townsville’s embattled mayor Troy Thompson to defend his leadership