Troy Thompson, Townsville mayor, returns to council duties amid Crime and Corruption Commission investigation
North Queensland’s leaders are calling on Premier Steven Miles and his government to “use their powers” and force Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson out so the city can forge ahead.
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North Queensland’s leaders are calling on Premier Steven Miles and his government to “use their powers” and force Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson out so the city can forge ahead.
It comes after the mayor returned to work Wednesday morning to chair the general council meeting, despite issuing a statement last month saying he would be taking “a leave of absence until the conclusion of the (Crime and Corruption Commission) investigations”.
Four days after his initial statement, Mr Thompson edited his post to say he had just “taken a leave of absence due to health reasons”, later claiming councillors and the CEO hired security guards to block his return to work.
Mr Thompson’s first act as returning chairman at Wednesday’s meeting was immediately asking media to leave the room.
Katter’s Australia Party deputy leader Nick Dametto said for someone who was elected on the campaign promise of transparency, the move was “very contradictory”.
“But the fact is it’s really turned into, I believe the media and those watching, political heroin,” Mr Dametto said.
“No one can take their eyes off this absolute bin fire that’s going on across the road at Townsville City Council chambers.
“It has turned into a complete disaster and it might be fun for some people watching but while this circus continues on, Townsville continues to be impeded by a council that isn’t functioning properly, a mayor that is still under investigation.”
The Member for Hinchinbrook said their party was calling for “something very strong” to be done.
“Let’s expedite the CCC investigation, let’s get to the bottom of this,” Mr Dametto said.
“Let’s get the premier and the minister to stop using words and start using their powers bestowed on them to push things along.
“Once the CCC investigation has an outcome let’s pull the lever necessary to get the city back on track.”
Mr Dametto said as it stands, the region was “in limbo”.
“We have seen investment and people talking to investors saying that people are starting to shy away from the place,” he said.
“When you’re investing hundreds of millions of dollars to spend and invest in a city, you want to make sure your spending your money in a place that has some certainty and right now Townsville lacks that.”
He called out Mr Thompson for banning media from covering Wednesday’s council meeting, saying it wasn’t in line with the promise of transparency.
“A number of things the mayor said during his campaign fell away quite quickly after being elected, everything from a rate freeze all the way to selling assets,” Mr Dametto said.
“We’ve now seen the council doors closed to the media, which is an absolute farce.
“It flies in the face of everything that was said originally now for the councils chambers to be shut to the media.
“That is an unprecedented step, something previous councils here wouldn’t even have considered to say go and hang out on Facebook or watch the livestream from the website.
“That’ll work until the website crashed like it did last time.”
Premier Steven Miles said he was disappointed to see media excluded from Wednesday’s council meeting by Mr Thompson.
“Holding politicians, all levels of government to account is really important,” Mr Miles said.
“It’s disappointing that he’s chosen to exclude the media from that meeting and I would urge him to change that position and allow the media to report on the council.”
The Premier reiterated calls for the mayor to step down during the CCC investigation, but said it was still not appropriate for the government to intervene while the investigation was being carried out.
“I can have an opinion, but that doesn’t mean that I should step in and force that opinion on them (council),” he said.
“What I’ve indicated is that it would be in the best interest of Townsville.”
Townsville City Council Acting CEO Joe McCabe confirmed that Mr Thompson had asked media to leave but claimed there had been a misunderstanding.
“At today’s Council meeting, Mayor Troy Thompson asked media to leave the Council chambers,” he said.
“It was my understanding he was requesting for cameras and other recording devices to be removed, as per section 6.6.8 (b) of Code of Meeting Practice.
He said journalists were members of the public and therefore allowed to remain inside chambers during open sessions in accordance with section 6.6.7 of the code.
“Council is continuing to deliver core services and maintain its strategic focus for the benefit of the Townsville community.”
Labor Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said while promoting the Townsville 500 that “we’re a bit used to seeing some interesting things in local government at the moment”.
He said Mr Thompson’s decision to remove media from the council chamber was “kind of opposed” to his election platform of transparency, but that political leaders should wait for the CCC investigation to be concluded.
“I am confident that the local government minister Meaghan Scanlon will be waiting for the conclusion of the CCC investigation before any recommendations or addressing any recommendations they may make,” Mr Harper said.
“We’ll let them (the council) sort out their stuff and let this CCC investigation play out.”
Former Division 1 councillor, KAP candidate Margie Ryder said the fiasco was not a great look for Townsville and had the potential to derail vital economic investment.
“I’ve got someone flying up from Sydney in August and the first thing that came out of their mouth is ‘Marg, are you sure we can actually do business with the turmoil that’s in Townsville?’” she said.
“It’s just embarrassing.”
Ms Ryder said that Mr Thompson’s claims were “morally terribly wrong” and would have most likely resulted in the firing of any council employee making similarly inaccurate claims.
“But because he’s the mayor, you can’t sack someone for spinning bullshit,” she said.
“Not that I agree with it … he’s going to be here for four years.”
Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon was asked whether or not a mayor was legally allowed to exclude the media from an open general council meeting but declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works said it was a “matter for each council in accordance with any local laws in place”.
It is understood that under section 35 of Townsville City Council’s Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2011, persons are not permitted to make audio or video recordings of local government meetings except with the permission of the chairperson of the meeting.
The matter was not put to a vote by the elected councillors.
A Townsville City Council spokeswoman said the attendance of the media was at the “discretion” of the chairperson of the meeting, in this case Mr Thompson.
Under the Code of Meeting Practice under the Local Government Act 2009, it states that “representatives of the press, radio and television may attend meetings in the area set aside for the media”.
The TCC spokeswoman said it was checking with its legal department to source the exact legal statute.
After going through a string of standard items of business, Mr Thompson called the meeting to a close at 10.33am — one hour and three minutes after it began.
Townsville mayor returns to oversee meeting
Embattled Townsville mayor Troy Thompson has told councillors he has the certificates he needs to prove his capacity to return to his duties, having taken leave for mental health reasons during an investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Despite running on a platform of transparency, Mr Thompson’s first act as chairman was immediately asking media to leave the room at this morning’s general council meeting.
“Thank you, Councillor Jacob. I might ask if it’s OK, the CEO, that the press can leave the room now,” Mr Thompson’s first words were as returning mayor.
“It’s transparent, we get it recorded so they may watch it live at any time, thank you.”
Half an hour after the council meeting began, news cameras and reporters remained outside the chamber waiting for further comment from council representatives.
It is understood that councils do have the capacity to remove media from the chamber at the chairperson’s discretion.
The public was permitted to remain inside, with visitors at this morning’s meeting including the mayor’s partner.
Townsville residents and readers of this publication quickly condemned the mayor’s return and media ban.
“Mr Thompson has freely noted that due to his 100+ concussions and his epilepsy he struggles to remember what he has done or says,’’ Kris wrote.
“What legal entity could in any resemblance of sanity, put him back in charge of the council and its 900 million odd budget! That is ludicrous!
“Mr Thompson needs to either step down freely or be removed! Clearly he does not have the ability to run the council irrelevant of what he thinks his skills and capabilities are.
“He (Thompson) should have stay banned. After all he is banning the media from council meetings. Nobody wants Thompson as mayor anymore,’’ Darrel wrote.
Another said taxpayers and constituents had the right to know what goes on in council meetings.
“We gave him his job and we pay for their wages.’’
“Pretty sure he cannot ban constituents except where confidential information is considered and the meeting is closed to only elected representatives and certain employees of the council,’’ Martin pointed out.
Allan Redgen said Mr Thompson didn’t want to face questions from the media, while others questioned his commitment to transparency.
Leanne Collins said she thought Mr Thompson should be staying away until the CCC investigations were finalised.
“Better still just resign and move on and allow Townsville residents to (vote again).”
Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob was asked before the meeting if he still had no confidence in Mr Thompson’s capacities, but he said he would wait until after the meeting before deciding if he would address the matter.
Mr Thompson said it would be an ordinary meeting when asked what the agenda would be, while interim CEO Joe McCabe made no comment.
Mr Jacob said the mayor informed councillors yesterday of his intentions to return to work.
The deputy formally chaired the council meeting to begin with, with media permitted to enter as normal as it began, but it was moved that Mr Thompson would resume chairman duties, which is when the mayor booted out the media.
“At this point I’m not certain,” Mr Jacob said prior to the meeting about losing the chairman’s position.
“I am fully prepared for that.”
Mr Jacob understood that the investigation against Mr Thompson was ongoing.
After going through a string of standard items of business, Mr Thompson called the meeting to a close at 10.33am.
Councillor Andrew Robinson was the only councillor who addressed the elephant in the room, attempting to read a prepared speech during the first motion before the CEO advised it wasn’t the appropriate time.
Later, Mr Robinson requested to speak on another motion once Mr Thompson was reinstated as meeting chairman.
“Integrity is of the utmost importance,” Mr Robinson said.
“When I was sworn in as a councillor, I declared that I would faithfully and impartially fulfil my duties in accordance with the principles and code of conduct.
“And, however it may gall me and whilst my heart is fervently against how I will vote, it is my belief that we need to follow legal advice for only a fool wouldn’t listen to legal counsel. Thank you.”
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Originally published as Troy Thompson, Townsville mayor, returns to council duties amid Crime and Corruption Commission investigation
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