This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/26/controversial-queensland-mayor-troy-thompson-resigns-after-corruption-probe
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Controversial Queensland mayor Troy Thompson resigns after corruption inquiry | Controversial Queensland mayor Troy Thompson resigns after corruption inquiry |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Thompson, accused of misleading voters about his military record, says he will now nominate in the byelection caused by his departure | Thompson, accused of misleading voters about his military record, says he will now nominate in the byelection caused by his departure |
| Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates | Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates |
| Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast | Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast |
| A controversial north Queensland mayor accused of misleading voters about his army service has resigned. | A controversial north Queensland mayor accused of misleading voters about his army service has resigned. |
| Troy Thompson was suspended on full pay in November while the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) conducted an investigation. | Troy Thompson was suspended on full pay in November while the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) conducted an investigation. |
| Last week the local government minister, Ann Leahy, issued Thompson with a two-week show-cause notice to explain why he should not be dismissed from the role. | Last week the local government minister, Ann Leahy, issued Thompson with a two-week show-cause notice to explain why he should not be dismissed from the role. |
| In a video posted on Facebook on Friday, Thompson announced that he had “formally resigned as mayor”. | In a video posted on Facebook on Friday, Thompson announced that he had “formally resigned as mayor”. |
| “Let me be absolutely clear about this, this resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing,” he said. | “Let me be absolutely clear about this, this resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing,” he said. |
| Sign up: AU Breaking News email | Sign up: AU Breaking News email |
| “It is a deliberate and principled stand to protect the democratic rights of the people of Townsville. | “It is a deliberate and principled stand to protect the democratic rights of the people of Townsville. |
| “Political interference has no place in our democracy. Only the community should decide who leads this city.” | “Political interference has no place in our democracy. Only the community should decide who leads this city.” |
| For 18 months Thompson had resisted widespread, bipartisan pressure for him to step aside, including a unanimous vote of no confidence by Townsville councillors. | For 18 months Thompson had resisted widespread, bipartisan pressure for him to step aside, including a unanimous vote of no confidence by Townsville councillors. |
| Thompson has repeatedly used Facebook in recent days to allege the local government minister’s show-cause process has lacked natural justice. | Thompson has repeatedly used Facebook in recent days to allege the local government minister’s show-cause process has lacked natural justice. |
| In Friday’s video Thompson said his resignation renders the show-cause notice “moot” as there is “no office holder left to sanction”. | In Friday’s video Thompson said his resignation renders the show-cause notice “moot” as there is “no office holder left to sanction”. |
| “Nothing in the law prevents me from running again,” he said. | “Nothing in the law prevents me from running again,” he said. |
| “The only disqualifications relate to bankruptcy and criminal convictions, none of which apply to me. I will therefore nominate in the byelection so people of Townsville, and only the people of Townsville, can decide who should lead their city.” | “The only disqualifications relate to bankruptcy and criminal convictions, none of which apply to me. I will therefore nominate in the byelection so people of Townsville, and only the people of Townsville, can decide who should lead their city.” |
| Thompson called on Leahy to dissolve the Townsville city council and for an investigation into financial mismanagement and corruption at the local government body. | Thompson called on Leahy to dissolve the Townsville city council and for an investigation into financial mismanagement and corruption at the local government body. |
| On Friday, Leahy said Thompson should report any complaints to the CCC or the office of the independent assessor. | On Friday, Leahy said Thompson should report any complaints to the CCC or the office of the independent assessor. |
| Leahy issued last week’s show-cause notice after a briefing from the corruption commission in August. | Leahy issued last week’s show-cause notice after a briefing from the corruption commission in August. |
| She said Townsville electors “deserve that information” before casting a vote, but that the CCC “has specifically restricted me from releasing that information”. | She said Townsville electors “deserve that information” before casting a vote, but that the CCC “has specifically restricted me from releasing that information”. |
| “The avenue for the release of the information sits with the CCC,” she said. | “The avenue for the release of the information sits with the CCC,” she said. |
| Leahy said she hoped to have a byelection date by early next week and confirmed that Thompson was eligible to stand. | Leahy said she hoped to have a byelection date by early next week and confirmed that Thompson was eligible to stand. |
| The acting Townsville mayor, Anne-Maree Greaney, said “the shadow of uncertainty and division that has been cast over our city and council” had been “lifted” by Thompson’s resignation. | The acting Townsville mayor, Anne-Maree Greaney, said “the shadow of uncertainty and division that has been cast over our city and council” had been “lifted” by Thompson’s resignation. |
| Greaney said a byelection was required to be held within two months, and council would hold a special meeting on Monday to consider the voting methodology, subject to approval of the local government minister. | Greaney said a byelection was required to be held within two months, and council would hold a special meeting on Monday to consider the voting methodology, subject to approval of the local government minister. |
| On Friday, Katter’s Australian Party MP Nick Dametto announced he would resign from state parliament to run for Townsville mayor. The move will cause a byelection in his seat of Hinchinbrook. | |
| Thompson was backed by My Place Townsville in last year’s election. In 2020 he stood as a One Nation candidate for the state seat of Thuringowa, but was disendorsed by the party before election day. | Thompson was backed by My Place Townsville in last year’s election. In 2020 he stood as a One Nation candidate for the state seat of Thuringowa, but was disendorsed by the party before election day. |
| During the election, he claimed to have spent five years in the army, including time at “SAS Swanbourne”, the Special Air Service base in Western Australia. In an interview with A Current Affair in May last year, he conceded he had served only three years as a reservist, largely in the catering corps. | During the election, he claimed to have spent five years in the army, including time at “SAS Swanbourne”, the Special Air Service base in Western Australia. In an interview with A Current Affair in May last year, he conceded he had served only three years as a reservist, largely in the catering corps. |
| “Those who know me know that I’ve had multiple concussions – 100 plus – and I suffer from epilepsy,” he told A Current Affair. | “Those who know me know that I’ve had multiple concussions – 100 plus – and I suffer from epilepsy,” he told A Current Affair. |
| Thompson was also accused of exaggerating his qualifications. | Thompson was also accused of exaggerating his qualifications. |
| He defeated long-term Townsville mayor Jenny Hill with a two candidate preferred vote of 52.62%. | He defeated long-term Townsville mayor Jenny Hill with a two candidate preferred vote of 52.62%. |