3 days ago
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The former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson misled the electorate about a cancer diagnosis, his military history and university qualifications, according to a report by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
The CCC also found that, as mayor, Thompson leaked numerous confidential documents to an unnamed “adviser”, sending them 8,741 encrypted WhatsApp messages in a five-month period.
According to a report by the corruption body tabled on Thursday in Queensland’s parliament, the adviser had no formal role within Townsville city council but was paid at least $5,300 for political and policy advice.
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The commission argued that his appointment of the adviser in a “clandestine manner … poses a corruption risk”. Thompson was “expressly aware of his obligations of confidentiality” and discussed steps taken to keep their relationship secret.
Their messages were not preserved by council under the Public Records Act.
“Mr Thompson denies committing any kind of misconduct or criminal offence and respectfully declines to provide a response in circumstances where there is the prospect of future criminal proceedings,” his lawyers told the CCC.
The report also details allegations of false statements by Thompson before and after he became mayor of Townsville in 2024.
During the election campaign he falsely claimed to have served as a signalman alongside the SAS and exaggerated his length of service, which was in the army reserve, it said.
In a subsequent interview with A Current Affair, he blamed “100-plus” concussions and epilepsy for forgetting details of his military service.
The CCC obtained copies of Thompson’s medical records.
“There is no evidence Mr Thompson has received specialist treatment for epilepsy,” the CCC report read.
“An epilepsy management plan has been endorsed by a general practitioner, who also prescribed anti-seizure medication between November 2023 and October 2024”.
Thompson also claimed to be a “cancer survivor” during the election campaign, claiming he had been told to “get your affairs in order” in 2021 as a result of oesophageal cancer.
His medical records do not record a diagnosis or treatment for oesophageal cancer, the CCC said.
“The records show that Mr Thompson had post-gastric sleeve complications which potentially account for any reference to his stomach and the associated comments to ensure his affairs were in order,” the CCC said.
One witness interviewed by the CCC told them Thompson had made similar claims on Facebook in 2019, and that a relative had commented on the post blaming his gastric band surgery and encouraging him to “stop telling people he had cancer”.
He also self-reported the removal of several “melanomas”. According to the medical records reviewed by the CCC, he had malignant skin lesions removed in 2020 but “has had no melanomas diagnosed or treated”
No specialist oncologist or known cancer medications are listed in his Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefit records.
“Mr Thompson did not publicly rescind his claims that he has survived a diagnosis of cancer,” the CCC said.
During the election campaign, Thompson also claimed to have “put myself through university” and to have obtained a business degree. His election materials asserted that he had bachelors degrees in commerce and science.
The CCC found this was also false.
Thompson was enrolled in a bachelor of commerce degree for one semester in 2006, passing two of the four subjects in which he was enrolled, according to the report. He has no university qualifications.
Thompson stood down as mayor in September after 18 months of pressure for his resignation. He was accused of standing aside in order to avoid being dismissed by the minister, so that he would be allowed to recontest the position at a byelection. He also called on the local government minister to dismiss the council, effectively sacking all other councillors.
He was easily beaten in November.
The CCC referred allegations about false claims during the election period and leaking as mayor to the Queensland department of public prosecutions.
It also recommended introducing a mechanism for candidates for election to declare qualifications and employment history, with sanctions if the information was false.
