Queensland Premier, Steve Miles, has issued Townsville City Council Mayor, Troy Thompson, with a show cause notice, with the city’s leader facing a 12-month suspension amid accusations he misled voters about his military service.
Mayor Thompson was referred to Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission in May over claims he made during his mayoral campaign about his military, business and education history.
The notice, issued this morning via letter from Local Government Minister, Meaghan Scanlon, accuses the Mayor of risking the welfare of council staff and damaging confidence in local government.
“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,” Premier Miles said in a statement.
“He had refused to do so and it is clear to me the situation in Townsville is getting worse, not better.”
The letter also states the Mayor has three weeks to respond to the notice.
In a Facebook post today, Mayor Thompson said the Premier and Minister’s actions had “shown a complete disregard for the principles of natural justice and could be viewed as having been taken for ulterior purposes given the looming election”.
“The letter outlines the Minister’s intention to recommend my suspension for a period of 12 months,” he said.
“I reject every allegation made in the letter to me this morning. It is nothing but one-sided.
“These allegations have not been tested in a court of law, and it appears the Labor Government is attempting to subvert natural justice.
“The Labor Government has demonstrated a disregard for your vote, for natural justice, and for the processes of the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).”
The Mayor has formally written to the Minister, demanding that any actions she seeks to take be deferred until after the State Government election caretaker period.
“This is the only appropriate course of action,” he said.
“It is unacceptable for the Labor Minister to take such drastic measures during the caretaker period.”
He said the decision to seek his suspension appeared to be “predicated on a series of disagreements between Labor Party councillors and myself, a Mayor from the opposing political spectrum”.
“Put simply, this is a political hit job by this Labor Government.”
The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) was also quick to respond to today’s action by the Queensland Premier.
“We are disappointed with the lack of consultation from the State Government leading up to this action,” said LGAQ CEO, Alison Smith.
“It is absolutely crucial that any State intervention is based on proper process and sound reasoning which must also be transparent, measured and above politics.
“Considerations must take into account any precedent it could set for the elected mayors and councillors of all 77 councils across Queensland.”
Townsville councillors passed a motion of no confidence in the Mayor in June.
