A mayor accused of misleading voters about his army service while campaigning in Australia's biggest military city is facing suspension.
Troy Thompson has slammed the Queensland government after it took the first step toward removing the embattled Townsville mayor, calling it a "political hit job".
Councillor Thompson has been sent a show cause notice following months of controversy at the north Queensland council.
It was issued after Queensland Premier Steven Miles on Monday night met with his cabinet ahead of the October 26 state election to discuss legal advice.
Cr Thompson has three weeks to respond but made his feelings known on social media on Tuesday, sharing his written response to Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon.
"Put simply this is a political hit job by this Labor government," he wrote.
Cr Thompson is being investigated by the state's corruption watchdog over matters including claims made during his 2024 mayoral campaign that he served five years in the army.
He later conceded on Nine Network's A Current Affair that he had misled voters about his military record, blaming "100-plus" concussions.
It sparked a unanimous no confidence council vote in Townsville, the country's biggest garrison city boasting more than 15,000 Australian Defence Force personnel.
Cr Thompson has since resisted calls to stand down amid ongoing issues with colleagues.
He is now officially on notice, with the state government sending him a letter stating it was in the public interest to suspend him from office for 12 months.
"Queensland leaders are held to a high standard and should meet community expectations while executing their duties," Mr Miles said in a statement.
"I’ve consistently said that if Mr Thompson cares about Townsville in the way he claims to, the best thing for Townsville would be for him to stand down.
"He had refused to do so and it's clear to me the situation in Townsville is getting worse, not better."
The letter accuses Cr Thompson of risking the welfare of Townsville council staff and damaging confidence in local government.
It also says he has hampered the council in performing its responsibilities to local residents efficiently and effectively as well as unreasonably diverting its resources.
Cr Thompson rejected the allegations, saying he would seek a Supreme Court injunction "should any adverse action be taken" by the government.
"These allegations have not been tested in a court of law, and it appears the Labor government is attempting to subvert natural justice," he posted on Facebook.
Cr Thompson also questioned the legitimacy of the notice, claiming it had been sent "during the caretaker period".
The state government moved into caretaker mode on Tuesday after the election campaign officially began.
The Local Government Association of Queensland said it was disappointed by the lack of government consultation before the notice was issued.
The minister said she did not make the decision lightly.
"Based on the latest legal advice and the information in front of me, I reasonably believe it's in the public interest for the Townsville mayor to be suspended," Ms Scanlon told reporters in Townsville.
