Premier of Queensland Steven Miles has stated that the Townsville mayor need to resign after expressing regret for deceiving the public about his military service history.
Troy Thompson also acknowledged not having finished his college degrees in an interview about a car accident that aired on A Current Affair last night.
He also said he couldn’t remember ever being charged with a crime. Miles stated on Friday, “Well, it’s not a good look—in fact, it’s a lot worse than not a good look.”
On A Current Affair, Thompson made startling admissions, claiming he could not remember going to court or receiving a $500 fine for attempting to commit fraud and forgery in 2008.
“I have no knowledge of that. on be honest, I will,” he said on A Current Affair.
The mayor further claimed that he had “spent five years in the military in Perth” prior to the election, accusing voters of being misled by his deteriorating memory.
According to records, he did not participate in the SAS and finished a two-week recruit camp and an army reservist cookery course in 1991.
The mayor remembered that he had never finished his two university degrees, which was why they had been removed from his LinkedIn profile.
Despite his assertions to the contrary during the campaign, he holds a business degree.
The mayor should resign, according to the premier, as there are numerous investigations going on, including one by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
“I think it’s in Townsville’s best interests for them to have a mayor who hasn’t lied to them,” Miles stated.
Troy Thompson, however, stated he had “no intention to step aside as some of the naysayers would like” in a statement released on Friday.
Council members in Townsville also demanded that he step down, guaranteeing that the topic will not go away.
