Calls for Townsville mayor’s axing after bombshell on-air confession

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has responded to Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson’s damning interview on A Current Affair where he admitted to misleading voters about his education, business acumen and military career.

In the explosive interview, Mr Thompson revealed he never completed university, exaggerated his military service, and committed forgery.

He had previously claimed to be a business graduate with two degrees and extensive experience running global companies.

His LinkedIn profile listed qualifications from Curtin University and Griffith University, which he admitted were also fake.

“I never completed them,” Thompson said. “But I started them. And then life changed. It was that simple.”

Mr Thompson apologised to veterans and military personnel for falsely claiming a five-year stint in the army and SAS. In reality, he had only spent six months in entry-level training with the army reserves.

“Those who know me know that I’ve had multiple concussions, 100 plus, and I suffer from epilepsy,” he explained. “That’s not an excuse. But it says you’re going to forget things from time to time.”

The Office of the Independent Assessor has investigated Thompson’s military history and referred the case to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

Premier Miles called for Mr Thompson’s resignation on Friday, saying Townsville needs a leader who hasn’t misled its people.

“That would seem sufficient to me for him to stand down in the interest of Townsville,” he said.

“Townsville is one of our biggest and most important cities. It can’t afford the uncertainty that’s going to come from a weak leader, that was severely weakened by their admissions.

“Of all the places to lie about your military service – Townsville would have to be just about the worst.”

Mr Miles said “appropriate processes” are currently being undertaken.

“It’s unlikely that there’s anything we could do in those circumstances. Appropriate processes are being undertaken to investigate those matters,” he said.

“But I think it’s in Townsville’s best interest for them to have a mayor that hasn’t lied to them.”

“I’d urge him to seriously consider what’s in the best interest of the city that he said he cared about when he ran for election.”

Federal MP for Herbert and army veteran Phillip Thompson echoed these sentiments, calling for the mayor to step aside.

“This has disappointed a lot of people in the largest garrison city in the country, and certainly the correspondence I’ve received from the veteran community following these reports has been of shock and upset,” he said.

“(As an elected leader) you need to be transparent and honest, you need to tell the truth to the community and answer the community when tough questions are asked.

“Once that faith is lost, it is extremely difficult to serve the people that have put their faith in you. There is now trust that has been eroded.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Mayor Thompson remained defiant, insisting it was business as usual and blamed the media for the negativity.

“I have no intention to step aside as some of the naysayers would like, because when people were looking for a change, no one, except my friend Harry (Patel) and I stood up,” the mayor wrote on Facebook.

“I look forward to the many people currently being negative toward me, putting their hand up in four years, until then, I will work incredibly hard to be transparent, and clear on our direction, and promote Townsville in the positive light it deserves.

Mayoral candidate Harry Patel called for a by-election, expressing concern over the city’s image following Mr Thompson’s admissions.

“We do not have any confidence in our Mayor anymore,” Patel said.

“If he is so transparent, why are you doing all of this?”

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has offered Mr Thompson support, including legal assistance, as the investigation continues.

“This is a matter that is now actually under investigation by authorities and we need to wait for that to play out,” said LGAQ chief executive Alison Smith.

“We don’t talk about individual matters of members.”

News.com.au has contacted Mayor Thompson for further comment.