Townsville councillors pass no confidence motion in newly-elected mayor Troy Thompson

Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson has emailed the council’s chief executive to request a leave of absence today while the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) investigates his conduct.

Thompson said on social media today that he is still mayor but is “taking time off for mental health reasons” and is “allowing the investigation to proceed without additional pressure.”

“Thank you for your well wishes and continued support,” he said in the post.

The remaining councilors voted a vote of no confidence in the mayor today.

“The broken trust in the community that Mayor Thompson sought when he was elected mayor is something that feels very, very uncomfortable for the people of Townsville,” Councilor Anne-Marie Greaney told 9News Queensland.

Prime Minister Stephen Miles also weighed in on the situation.

“It’s just too important for the council to have to limp forward with an absent mayor, a mayor who doesn’t have the confidence of the council or the city, that’s really important,” Miles told reporters today.

Councilors have called on Minister of State for Local Government Meagan Scanlon to remove the mayor.