'Kick him in the balls': Adviser's plot with Troy Thompson exposed

Troy Thompson’s only known adviser once told a journalist to keep his role a secret while he tried to control the public narrative about the disgraced former mayor. DETAILS

The CCC report into former mayor Troy Thompson has been released. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Townsville real estate agent who told a journalist he was Troy Thompson’s secret media adviser has refused to comment on claims he is the unnamed adviser referred to in the CCC report on the former mayor.

Mr Thompson, who is only known to have one adviser, Stephen Lane, was investigated by the CCC over claims he made during the 2024 local government election and while in office.

The former mayor was found to have lied about surviving a deadly cancer, embellishing his military record and falsely claiming he had completed university degrees.

Mr Lane, who told a journalist he was Mr Thompson’s media adviser but warned them to keep it a secret, did not respond to the Bulletin’s request for comment.

Mr Lane’s most recent job, was as real estate agent.

Stephen Lane was Mr Thompson’s adviser.

The CCC report shows the adviser – who is not named in the report – first made contact with Mr Thompson via Facebook Messenger, asking if he wanted help with campaign photos and videos.

The pair went on to exchange more than 8700 messages, with more than 1000 identified as relevant to the investigation, according to the CCC report.

It was found on 32 occasions, Mr Thompson sent the adviser confidential Townsville City Council documents.

“Given your access to the budget, can you send me details on the key elements of the budget that are open for attack in the media …. like the pipeline blow out, and things like meters for parking,” the adviser wrote in a message extracted in the CCC report.

According to the report, When discussing the best way to force the council CEO Joe McCabe to resign, the adviser said: “I think we kick Joe in the balls, then punch the councillors in the guts a little later on, and see how they cope.”

“Is there any ability to give a direction for the CEO to resign and withdraw his application, based on the numerous complaints against him,” the adviser said on a separate occasion.

While there is no rule that precludes a mayor from hiring a private adviser under the current legislation, the CCC’s investigations included a recommendation that the government consider if “further regulation is required in relation to the engagement by individual elected officials of private advisers”.

A journalist said they dealt with Mr Lane on multiple occasions in relation to Mr Thompson.

Former Townsville Bulletin and TV journalist Bethany Ross said she dealt with Mr Lane on multiple occasions in relation to Mr Thompson.

“Stephen Lane told me he was acting as Mayor Troy Thompson’s unofficial media adviser, due to his background in law and that I wasn’t to tell anyone,” she told the Bulletin.

“I’m a local journalist who was working for a TV news network in 2024 in Townsville when Stephen Lane reached out to me via Facebook saying he had a story to share with me.

“After that, he made sure all our conversations were off the record and over the phone, regarding Townsville’s (former) mayor Troy Thompson and the way council was allegedly trying to remove him from his position unlawfully.”

Ross said on one occasion, Mr Lane visited her office and showed her a document containing correspondence between a council member and Mr Thompson.

“For months, Mr Thompson would not speak to the media. If we wanted a comment, we had to submit our questions to Stephen Lane, who would then film Troy answering, and then send it back – essentially only answering what they wanted to,” she said.

In its report, the CCC said it had uncovered evidence that Mr Thompson paid the adviser $5300 between July 19, 2024 and October 1, 2024. A total of 23 transactions were made, however it is never expressly said in the messages between the pair why it is being exchanged.

“The adviser appeared to perform a quasi-personal advisory role to Mr Thompson including drafting correspondence, emails, media releases and generally providing advice to Mr Thompson,” the report stated.

Mr Thompson, who denies any wrongdoing, did not respond to a request for comment.

He is facing no charges in relation to the CCC report.

Originally published as 'Kick him in the balls': Adviser's plot with Troy Thompson exposed