Embattled Mayor quits after state moves to give marching orders
Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson has resigned – just one week after the Queensland government issued a show cause notice following lengthy investigations.
A controversial mayor of Australia’s biggest garrison city has resigned, amid claims he misled voters about his military service.
Last week, the Queensland Government issued Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson with a show cause after the Crime and Corruption Commission briefed Local Government Minister Ann Leahy on its ongoing investigations into him.
But in a video posted to social media on Friday, he announced his resignation, and that he would re-contest the mayoralty at a by-election.
Thompson was accused of misleading voters during his 2024 mayoral campaign by claiming that he served five years in the army, later admitting to the deception on the Nine Network and blaming “100-plus” concussions.
It sparked an unanimous no-confidence council vote in Townsville, a town with more than 15,000 Australian Defence Force personnel.
Thompson then resisted calls to stand down amid ongoing issues with colleagues.
He previously rejected allegations levelled against him, vowing to continue fighting to clear his name and return to office.
The state’s former Labor government issued a show cause notice in one of its final acts before going into caretaker mode ahead of the state election.
He agreed to be suspended on full pay of $225,206 for a year after the Liberal National Party was elected to office in October 2024.
Stay informed, daily
The corruption watchdog’s investigation includes matters beyond misleading voters.
The previous government accused Thompson of risking the welfare of Townsville council staff and damaging confidence in local government.
It also alleged he hampered the council in performing its responsibilities to local residents efficiently and effectively, as well as unreasonably diverting its resources.
