The Queensland Government has announced the issuing of a show cause notice to suspended Townsville City Council Mayor, Troy Thompson.
Cr Thompson (pictured) was suspended with pay in November last year after a council-commissioned Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) investigation was launched into his military, education and business credentials. The investigation relates to complaints about Facebook posts and emails written by Cr Thompson.
Local Government Minister, Ann Leahy said the Townsville community had been “left in limbo” for nearly 250 days due to inaction on the matter by the former State Government.
“They failed to deliver stability and they failed to uphold the standards expected under the Local Government Act,” the Minister said.
“In contrast, within two and a half weeks of coming into Government, we acted. We promised the people of Townsville a fresh start — and we delivered it. By suspending the Mayor, we ensured the Council could get on with the job of serving the people and businesses of Townsville.”
The Minister said she had been provided with a CCC briefing in late August as part of its ongoing investigation into Cr Thompson.
“That briefing set out serious allegations. Since receiving that advice I have considered the matters relating to Councillor Thompson in considerable detail including my responsibilities in relation to the Local Government Act 2009.”
“Accordingly, I will today issue Councillor Thompson with a formal show cause notice. This will provide him with 14 days to respond and sets out in detail the basis of my concerns.
“As required under section 120 of the Local Government Act 2009, the notice includes a detailed explanation of the factual basis for forming my reasonable belief that dismissal may be appropriate.”
Following the 14-day period, and upon receipt of Councillor Thompson’s response, Minister Leahy said she will carefully consider the matters raised before making any final decision.
“Mr Speaker, these are serious matters. The actions I have taken reflect this Government’s firm commitment to transparency, natural justice, and the highest standards of integrity in local government.”
“At every step, my focus has been the people of Townsville. They deserve a council that is stable, accountable, and able to deliver for its community. I have sought to ensure the public interest of the Townsville community is always at the centre of my decision making,” she said.
In an online response to the Minister’s Show Cause Notice, Cr Thompson said the allegations outlined in the Notice were not new and “remain entirely defendable”.
“I categorically reject the implication that I have engaged in any misconduct or dishonesty,” he wrote.
“While the Minister states she will “consider” my response, the language of the Notice — and its timing — raises serious concerns. Not only does it appear to pre-empt the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), but it also gives rise to serious questions about the misuse of investigative material for political purposes.
“It is my understanding that CCC information is confidential, protected, and not to be disclosed or acted upon by political decision-makers while an investigation is ongoing. If the Minister is in receipt of CCC material, and is using it to justify political action prior to the conclusion of that investigation, such conduct may be unlawful and amount to a serious breach of public trust. It would constitute interference in an independent process and raise the possibility of corrupt conduct in itself.
“Further, if information from the CCC has been shared within the State Government before any court of law has made a determination, it undermines the integrity of both the investigative process and the principle of the presumption of innocence. This would be an abuse of process, and a direct threat to natural justice.”
Cr Thompson said he remained steadfast in “defending my name, my office, and the democratic rights of those I was elected to represent”.
Following the Government’s announcement, Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) CEO, Alison Smith thanked the Minister for her transparency.
“The LGAQ maintains its view that the provisions under the Local Government Act that allow for the suspension or dismissal of a mayor, councillor or council ‘in the public interest’ are extraordinary provisions,” said Ms Smith.
“We continue to seek a review of these provisions, as was initially promised by the former State Government when these powers were first introduced in 2018.”
