The Queensland corruption watchdog has exposed former Townsville mayor Troy Thompson for deceiving the public about significant aspects of his personal and professional background. The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) recently unveiled the results of an investigation that discredited Thompson’s claims during his pre-election campaign.

The investigation revealed that Thompson fabricated details regarding his military service, suggesting he had served in three army squadrons over five years. In reality, Thompson’s military experience was limited to two and a half years as a reservist, primarily within the catering corps. The CCC made it clear that he was “never a member of the Special Air Service Regiment of the Australian Army.”

Furthermore, the CCC report highlighted discrepancies in Thompson’s health history. Despite his assertions of being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and epilepsy, the investigation found no medical records to support these claims, apart from Thompson’s own statements.

The CCC concluded that he was “never a member of the Special Air Service Regiment of the Australian Army”.

According to the CCC’s findings, Thompson’s medical records showed no evidence of his claim that he was diagnosed or suffered from oesophageal cancer or epilepsy, other than his own self-reporting.

His LinkedIn page, which was linked to his election campaign materials, claimed he had obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from Griffith University and a Bachelor of Science from Curtin University.

He also told the media he had studied business and law.

The CCC found he did not hold any of those degrees, and his only qualifications were some technical certificates.

Thompson was also found to have released confidential council emails and information, using an encrypted WhatsApp account or his personal email address, to an unauthorised advisor on 32 occasions.

The investigation did not lead to any criminal charges being laid, but the report called for electoral and local government law reform to improve the verification of candidates’ claims and strengthen enforcement of offences like misleading voters or disclosing confidential information.

“The investigation highlighted important issues, including the need for stronger systems and processes to ensure truthful conduct by electoral candidates, better detection and management of false or misleading information, and appropriate handling of confidential material,” the CCC said in a statement.

Thompson said he “denies committing any kind of misconduct or criminal offence and respectfully declines to provide a response in circumstances where there is the prospect of future criminal proceedings”.

The findings bring about 18 months of turmoil to an end. 

Thompson, who was elected as Townsville mayor in March 2024, sparked doubts over his military history after only wearing his father’s military medals at ceremonies on Anzac Day.

He walked back his claims after receiving a dossier from the Department of Defence and told A Current Affair he had made the misrepresentations because he suffered more than 100 concussions and forgot how many years he had served. 

The CCC began investigating mid-last year.

Thompson refused to heed calls to stand down and remained as mayor until he was suspended for 12 months with full pay of $225,000 in November 2024. 

He formally resigned in October, after local government minister Ann Leahy gave him 14 days to explain why he should not be terminated from the position.

“This resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing,” he said at the time.

Thompson pledged to recontest his seat at the by-election, which was triggered by his resignation, but lost it to a former Katter’s Australian Party MP Nick Dametto earlier this month.