Townsville’s rogue mayor cops a show cause notice over his dodgy military record
A mayor accused of misleading voters about his army service in Australia’s biggest military city is facing suspension.
Troy Thompson has been sent a show cause notice after Queensland Premier Steven Miles took the first step towards removing the embattled Townsville mayor who’s been embroiled in a debacle for months.
Mr Miles on Monday night met with cabinet on his final day in power ahead of the October 26 state election to discuss legal advice before issuing the notice.
Councillor Thompson is being investigated by the state’s corruption watchdog over matters including claims made during his mayoral campaign that he served five years in the army.
He conceded in a May interview on Nine Network’s A Current Affair that he had misled voters about his military record, blaming “100-plus” concussions.
Cr Thompson has repeatedly resisted calls to stand down from his north Queensland post amid ongoing issues with colleagues since he was elected in March.
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He is now officially on notice, with the state government sending him a letter stating it’s in the public interest to suspend him from office for 12 months.
“Queensland leaders are held to a high standard and should meet community expectations while executing their duties,” Mr Miles said in a statement.
“I’ve consistently said that if Mr Thompson cares about Townsville in the way he claims to, the best thing for Townsville would be for him to stand down.
“He had refused to do so and it’s clear to me the situation in Townsville is getting worse, not better.”
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The letter accuses Cr Thompson of risking the welfare of Townsville City Council staff and damaging confidence in local government.
It also says he has hampered the council from performing its responsibilities to local residents efficiently and effectively as well as unreasonably diverting its resources.
Cr Thompson has three weeks to respond to the show cause notice.
He said on Sunday he would seek a Supreme Court injunction “to protect the integrity of our local government” if the premier tried to remove him.
“Let me be unequivocal: there is no justifiable cause for such an action,” he posted on Facebook.
“This would not only be an attack on a political rival but also an affront to the democratic rights of the residents of Townsville.”
Cr Thompson was referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission in May over his mayoral campaign claims about his military, business and education history.
He later conceded on A Current Affair he had falsely declared details about his army history and his university studies.
It sparked a unanimous no confidence council vote in Townsville, the country’s biggest garrison city boasting more than 15,000 Australian Defence Force personnel.
Cr Thompson took a month’s leave in June after the no confidence motion.
He returned to duty and the state government last month appointed an advisor to help the north Queensland council following months of friction.
