Former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson found to have misled voters about cancer diagnosis and military history | Queensland politics

Former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson misled voters about his cancer diagnosis, military history and university qualifications. Report of the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The CCC also found that Thompson, as mayor, leaked numerous confidential documents to an unnamed “consultant” and sent them 8,741 encrypted WhatsApp messages over a five-month period.

The consultant had no official role in Townsville city council but was paid at least $5,300 for political and policy advice, according to a corruption body report tabled in Queensland parliament on Thursday.

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The commission argued that the consultant’s “appointment in secret… creates a risk of corruption.” Thompson was “clearly aware of his obligations of confidentiality” and discussed the steps taken to keep their relationship secret.

His messages were not retained by the council under the Public Records Act.

His lawyers told the CCC: “Mr Thompson denies any wrongdoing or wrongdoing and respectfully declines to respond where there is a possibility of future criminal prosecution.”

The report also details allegations that Thompson made false statements before and after he becomes mayor of Townsville in 2024.

It was stated that during the election campaign he falsely claimed to have served as a signalman in the SAS and exaggerated his length of service in the reserve force.

In a later interview with A Current Affair, he blamed “over 100” concussions and epilepsy as the reason he forgot details of his military service.

CCC obtained copies of Thompson’s medical records.

“There is no evidence that Mr Thompson received specialist treatment for epilepsy,” the CCC report states.

“An epilepsy management plan was approved by a GP who also prescribed anti-seizure medications between November 2023 and October 2024.”

Thompson also claimed to be a “cancer survivor” during the election campaign, claiming that she was told to “get her affairs in order” in 2021 because of her esophageal cancer.

His medical records did not record a diagnosis or treatment for esophageal cancer, CCC said.

“The records show that Mr. Thompson had complications following gastric sleeve surgery, which potentially explains any reference to his stomach and comments made to reassure him that his affairs were in order,” the CCC said.

A witness interviewed by the CCC said Thompson made similar claims on Facebook in 2019 and that a relative blamed the post for gastric band surgery and encouraged him to “stop telling people he had cancer.”

He also self-reported the removal of several “melanomas.” Malignant skin lesions were removed in 2020 but “no melanomas were diagnosed or treated,” according to medical records reviewed by the CCC

No specialist oncologists or known cancer drugs are listed on Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefit records.

“Mr Thompson has not publicly rescinded his claims that he has recovered from his cancer diagnosis,” the CCC said.

During the election campaign, Thompson also claimed that he “got into college” and earned a business degree. Selection materials suggested he had a bachelor’s degree in commerce and science.

The CCC found this was also incorrect.

Thompson enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in commerce for one semester in 2006 and passed two of the four courses he was enrolled in, according to the report. No college degree.

Thompson left the mayor’s office in September after 18 months of pressure for his resignation. He was accused of standing aside to avoid being sacked by the minister so that he could be allowed to contest the post again in a by-election. He also called on the local government minister to sack the council and effectively sack all other councillors.

He was easily beaten in November.

The CCC forwarded the allegations of false allegations and leaks as mayor to the Queensland prosecutor’s office during the election period.

It also recommended introducing a mechanism whereby candidates standing for election can declare their qualifications and employment history and face sanctions if the information is inaccurate.