Townsville mayor Troy Thompson has been suspended for 12 months.
Yesterday afternoon council received a letter from the Minister for Local Government, Ann Leahy, confirming that Mr Thompson is stood down from his position for a year.
Mr Thompson has been in the middle of an ongoing Crime and Corruption investigation, since May, after he misled the public over his military, university and business qualifications.
He was issued a show-cause notice just before the recent state election.
In a statement the minister for local government Ann Leahy says the decision is a ‘win for Townsville residents’, after the premier made it clear Mr Thompson’s position was untenable’.
During his suspension Mr Thompson will be on full pay, but cannot perform any of the duties of a councilor or mayor.
Mr Thompson took to Facebook this morning, to warn councillors across the state that the ‘disappointing’ decision has set a dangerous precedent, with the state government able to suspend democratically elected members without a judicial pro
Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob will now be the Acting Mayor of Townsville and says the minister’s decision was ‘inevitable’ but he is excited to lead the city for as long as he is asked to.
Mr Thompson will be paid his usual salary of around a quarter of a million dollars in 20-25, however Mr Jacob has not been informed whether he will received the full salary of the mayoral’s position over the next 12 months.
