Maverick MP Bob Katter’s mixed views on Townsville mayor’s suspension

Maverick North Queensland MP Bob Katter believes the former state government should have resolved the Townsville City Council months ago. Now the entire region was paying for it.

Kennedy Federal MP Bob Katter answers a question on whether he backed the decision to suspend Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson on 12 months paid leave. Picture: Chris Burns

Maverick North Queensland politician Bob Katter believes the 12-month paid suspension of Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson could be “money well spent” even though it will cost ratepayers about $300,000.

“Money well spent in the fact he’s out of the council,” Mr Katter said.

But at the same time he conceded it was also a “very cavalier attitude” from the government towards the public’s money, and without a proper resolution to the council’s dynamics.

The Townsville City mayor’s remuneration is worth $225,206 annually, but the deputy mayor in Mr Thompson’s absence could be entitled to the same amount, which would cost ratepayer an additional $72,061 in wages.

Mr Katter labelled the council “completely dysfunctional” in the past eight months while being led by Mr Thompson, who is currently under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission over misrepresented claims about his education, business, and military history.

Suspended Mayor Troy Thompson chairs a Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Katter said Townsville was vital as North Queensland’s administrative centre, as well as being the “end game” for the primary resources produced in the bulk of his vast electorate of Kennedy which end up being manufactured or refined, or exported from the port.

But in that time there have been concerns in the business community that Townsville had not been able to focus on development as effectively as it could have.

Mr Katter said governments had not been as decisive about the council as they should have been, and that they could have resolved it with a by-election months ago.

Aerial view of Quayside Terminal, Port of Townsville.

He said when he served a state parliamentarian for almost 20 years, before switching to the federal level in 1993, there were several occasions in which councils were successfully able to oust their mayors.

In each case the state governments acted decisively, which Mr Katter said had not happened in Mr Thompson’s case, especially from the former Labor Government, which issued a show cause notice against him as one of its last decisions before the election campaign officially began in October.

“There were three cases I can remember clearly, and each case the government stepped in, sacked the mayor, called elections – he was free to run in the elections but no one was going to vote for him,” Mr Katter said.

Premier David Crisafulli visited Townsville alongside State MPs Natalie Marr (Thuringowa), Adam Baillie (Townsville) and Janelle Poole (Mundingburra), with the focus being on meeting with crime victims. Picture: Office of the Premier

“Council went about their business, a six month hiccup, that was all.

“Now we’ve been almost a year now in this hiccup situation and nothing has happened, nothing has been done.

“Once again it demonstrates the government doesn’t govern anymore, people that have great ability to talk or express themselves or argue their rightness, but no ability to actively deliver a result.”

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy announces the decision to suspend Troy Thompson for 12 months, and met with councillors at the Townsville City Council. Picture: Evan Morgan

Premier David Crisafulli said the Local Government Minister Ann Leahy was limited in what she could do given the previous government’s last minute decision to issue Mr Thompson a show cause notice.

“Well, Cr Thompson was getting full pay and was causing absolute chaos in the council,” he said.

“What Ann did was find a way to make sure she accepted his offer to be suspended using the former government’s framework that was put in place.

“And it gets him out of that building.

“What I want now in Townsville is the council to sort out its mess.”

Meanwhile, in the absence of Mr Thompson, the council is focusing on a leadership spill against Acting Mayor Paul Jacob.

While the business of ordinary council had concluded for the year, a special meeting will be held on Tuesday.

Councillors have been unable to be reached after a confidential workshop was held on Wednesday, but Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney looks to have the numbers to take on the role.

Division 8 councillor Andrew Robinson also showed interest in running for the role.

Originally published as Maverick MP Bob Katter’s mixed views on Townsville mayor’s suspension