Townsville ratepayers are outraged their controversial mayor will receive full pay while he's barred from office. The state government says the 12-month suspension is a 'reset' for the city, but Troy Thompson has vowed to clear his name.
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00:00A Minister's arrival signalling a Mayor's departure.
00:06On Wednesday I received a request from the Mayor, Troy Thompson, to be stood aside for
00:1312 months.
00:14Bringing to an end months of upheaval at the Council, at least for now.
00:19Today is the circuit breaker that enables them to get back to work for the ratepayers
00:23of Townsville.
00:25But those ratepayers will still pay Troy Thompson's $225,000 salary during his suspension.
00:32No way, that is one big joke love.
00:35I don't think it's right.
00:37Maybe half a pay or something like that?
00:39As a ratepayer that's disgusting.
00:41The State Government says there was no option.
00:44We were hamstrung by the legal process and also the original show cause notice.
00:51Troy Thompson is laughing all the way to the bank today.
00:54Minister Thompson has resisted pressure to stand down for months.
00:58He's faced backlash for inflating his military, business and education credentials and is
01:04accused of hampering Council operations.
01:07He remains under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
01:12This whole process has been destabilising.
01:14He would have realised, I believe, that these steps were going to be taken.
01:20In a Facebook post, Troy Thompson has refuted the allegations against him and has vowed
01:25to defend his position through the legal system.
01:28The suspended Mayor says he's looking forward to returning to work in 12 months once his
01:33name has been cleared.
01:35The local Government Minister met with councillors today.
01:39I think there was a sense of relief from the councillors that what they have been calling
01:45for and also the community as well, that this matter has now come to some resolution.
01:51Townsville residents are sick of the saga.
01:54I can sum it up in two words.
01:57Politics stinks.