A mayor accused of misleading voters about his army service while campaigning in Australia's biggest military city has challenged a plan to suspend him.
Embattled Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson says he has responded to Queensland Local Government Minister Meaghan Scanlon after the first step to remove him three weeks ago.
Councillor Thompson was sent a show cause notice detailing the plan to suspend him for 12 months after ongoing controversy at the north Queensland council.
He responded by the Monday night deadline, saying he had provided a 23-page defence including "35 documents of evidence" and a nine-page timeline of events.
"This submission is a very small part of what may be tendered to court at a future date," Cr Thompson said in a statement.
"The items the minister has identified in the show cause document, I refute and will be defended as required."
The state government issued the show cause notice in one of its final acts before going into caretaker mode ahead of Saturday's election.
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 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 said Ms Scanlon's show cause notice set a "dangerous precedence" and he would seek a High Court injunction if suspended.
"Without proper judicial process, which the (Corruption and Crime Commission) are completing, it could be 'alleged' this is only politically motivated during an election caretaker period," Cr Thompson said in his statement.
"As the democratically elected mayor of Townsville, I will not be stepping down and I have not been asked to.
"Should I be suspended by the minister, I will respect her decision at this time but I will challenge this and look to a High Court injunction if required."
Premier Steven Miles had indicated the incumbent government could negotiate a deal with the opposition to remove Cr Thompson while in caretaker mode or choose to wait until after Saturday's election.
Mr Miles on Tuesday said Cr Thompson's lengthy response would now be considered by the local government department.
"I think the situation ... is bad for Townsville and if I have any way of affecting that, then I would support an outcome that was better for Townsville," he said.
"It also underlines what can happen when you elect someone who's unknown.
"The people of Townsville didn't really know what they were getting with Troy Thompson and it's worked out really badly."
