Former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson misled voters about his 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 a number of confidential documents to an unnamed “adviser”, sending him 8,741 encrypted WhatsApp messages over a five-month period.
The consultant had no formal role on the Townsville City Council but was paid at least $5,300 for political and policy advice, according to a corruption body report tabled in the Queensland Parliament on Thursday.
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The Commission argued that the consultant’s “secret appointment…creates the risk of corruption”. Thompson was “clearly aware of his obligations of confidentiality” and discussed the steps he took to keep their relationship secret.
His messages were not protected by the council under the Public Records Act.
His lawyers told the CCC, “Mr. Thompson denies committing any misconduct or criminal offense and refuses to respond honorably in circumstances where there is a possibility of future criminal proceedings.”
The report also details allegations of false statements by Thompson before and after becoming mayor of Townsville in 2024.
It says that during the election campaign he falsely claimed to have worked as a signalman with the SAS and exaggerated his length of service in the Army Reserve.
In a later interview with A Current Affair, he attributed “more than 100” concussions and epilepsy to forgetting details of his military service.
The CCC obtained copies of Thompson’s medical records.
“There is no evidence that Mr Thompson received specialist treatment for epilepsy,” the CCC report said.
“The epilepsy management plan has been endorsed by a general practitioner, who has also prescribed anti-seizure medication between November 2023 and October 2024”.
Thompson also claimed to be a “cancer survivor” during the election campaign, claiming she was told to “get her affairs in order” in 2021 as a result of esophageal cancer.
The CCC said his medical records did not record a diagnosis or treatment for esophageal cancer.
The CCC said, “The record shows that Mr. Thompson had complications of the gastric sleeve, which were potentially attributable to his stomach and, in the context of related observations, ensured that his affairs were in order.”
A witness interviewed by the CCC told them Thompson had made similar claims on Facebook in 2019, and a relative had commented on posts blaming her gastric band surgery and encouraged her to “stop telling people she has cancer”.
He also self-reported the removal of several “melanomas”. According to medical records reviewed by the CCC, his malignant skin lesions were removed in 2020, but “no melanoma was diagnosed or treated”.
There are no specialist oncologists or known cancer medications listed in his Medicare and pharmaceutical benefit records.
“Mr. Thompson has not publicly retracted his claims that he has survived a cancer diagnosis,” the CCC said.
During the election campaign, Thompson also claimed that he had “attended university” and obtained a business degree. His election materials claimed that he had a bachelor’s degree in commerce and science.
The CCC found that this was also incorrect.
According to the report, Thompson was enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce degree for one semester in 2006, in which he passed two out of four subjects. He has no university qualifications.
Thompson stepped down as mayor in September after 18 months of pressure for his resignation. He was accused of standing on the sidelines to avoid being sacked by the minister, so that he would be allowed to contest the post again in a by-election. They also called on the Minister for Local Government to dismiss the council, effectively sacking all other councillors.
They were easily defeated in November.
The CCC referred allegations of false claims and leaks as mayor during the election period to the Queensland Department of Public Prosecutions.
It also recommended introducing a mechanism for candidates to declare qualifications and employment history in elections, with sanctions also being imposed if the information was incorrect.
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