Townsville resident outraged that controversial mayor will receive full pay while suspended

ABC NEWS (Australia)

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.

Transcript

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.

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