Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson says he will fight to keep his job amid military misstatements.

The embattled mayor has confirmed that he will challenge a Queensland Government move to suspend him from office, following investigations into alleged misrepresentations about his military service.

Cr Thompson, whose claim to have served five years in the army have been scrutinised since his 2024 mayoral campaign, faces a 12-month suspension following a show cause notice issued by Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon three weeks ago. 

This warning came shortly before Queensland entered the caretaker mode ahead of the state elections set for October 26.

The controversy centres on Thompson's alleged misleading of voters in Townsville, Australia’s largest garrison city, during his campaign. 

Thompson admitted in TV interviews that he misrepresented his military background, attributing the misstatement to “100-plus” concussions sustained during his career. 

The incident triggered a unanimous no-confidence vote among Townsville councillors in June, yet the mayor has repeatedly refused to step down despite increasing pressure from both his peers and the broader community.

In a submission provided to the government before the deadline, Thompson reportedly included “35 documents of evidence” and a detailed timeline of events spanning nine pages. He maintains that the allegations are politically driven and that the government’s actions during an election period set a “dangerous precedent”. 

“Without proper judicial process, which the CCC (Crime and Corruption Commission) are completing, it could be 'alleged' this is only politically motivated during an election caretaker period,” Thompson said in a statement. 

He further vowed to pursue legal action, saying; “Should I be suspended by the minister, I will respect her decision at this time, but I will challenge this and look to a High Court injunction if required”. 

Premier Steven Miles expressed concerns about the mayor's effectiveness, suggesting that Thompson’s presence has adversely impacted local government operations. 

“I’ve said that him being in that role is bad for Townsville, and what’s bad for Townsville is bad for Queensland,” Miles stated. 

A special advisor was appointed earlier this month to aid the Townsville City Council in overcoming ongoing governance challenges.

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