Thompson also claimed on at least two occasions to be a cancer survivor, stating that he had undergone surgery and been advised to get his affairs in order.
In an interview, he claimed to have undergone stomach and oesophageal surgeries, and to have spent nine months “living off a tube”.
Former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson.Credit:
But the CCC found his medical records did not contain any proof of his being diagnosed or treated for oesophageal cancer.
The records instead show he had post-gastric-sleeve complications, with related surgery in December 2020. He also received treatment for a squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
There were no oncologists or known cancer medications listed in his Medicare or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records, the CCC said.
Thompson referenced having epilepsy in an interview, and the commission verified that he had been taken by ambulance to Townsville Hospital for apparent seizures in 2023. While he began taking anti-seizure medication in November of that year, there was no evidence that he received any specialist treatment for the condition.
“There is no direct evidence to confirm that Mr Thompson has been diagnosed and/or suffers from epilepsy,” the commission said.
Thompson also sent confidential or commercially sensitive information to his “adviser”, who had no official role with Townsville City Council.
The information included:
- an incoming councillor brief issued to Thompson;
- Townsville council’s draft Capital Plan;
- the council’s summary of budget exclusions;
- the council’s project briefing paper regarding the Haughton Pipeline;
- an executive/mayoral briefing note containing information on the council’s capital facility;
- a confidential modelling document for paid parking;
- documents relating to the recruitment of the interim chief executive officer, including contract documents, and;
- documents relating to recruitment for the permanent role of the chief executive officer.
Thompson paid the adviser at least $5300 between July 19 and October 1, 2024.
“There is no evidence of any written contract of employment between the adviser and [council],
or that any such employment arrangement exists between Mr Thompson and the adviser setting
out the conditions of employment, functions and key responsibilities, a requirement that the
adviser comply with the councillor adviser code of conduct, whether disciplinary action may be
taken and/or the types of disciplinary action that may be taken against the adviser,” the commission said.
There is no evidence Thompson made council aware of his arrangement with the adviser, and “the messages between him and the adviser actively discuss steps taken to circumvent the monitoring of the official email accounts on the [council] computer system”, the CCC said.
Thompson declined an interview with the commission, and denies “committing any kind of misconduct or criminal offence”.
The commission recommended that the state government undergo a “detailed review of the relevant electoral and local government legislation to identify areas for reform”.
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