The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has launched an 11th hour bid to stand down controversial north Queensland mayor Troy Thompson as the Labor state government enters caretaker mode and faces an uphill state reelection campaign.
Miles’ office confirmed on Tuesday it had sent a show cause to the Townsville mayor.
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.
The premier issued the show cause to stand down Thompson for 12 months while the corruption watchdog investigates claims he embellished his military service during his local government campaign.
“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,” Miles said in a statement.
“He had refused to do so and it is clear to me the situation in Townsville is getting worse, not better.”
The letter accuses Thompson of risking the welfare of Townsville council staff and damaging confidence in local government.
It also alleges he has hampered the council in performing its responsibilities to local residents efficiently and effectively as well as unreasonably diverting its resources.
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.
Thompson also questioned the legitimacy of the notice, claiming it had been sent “during the caretaker period”.
Thompson’s claims about his military service history are being investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), including his time in the SAS.
The former One Nation candidate, who won office in March with the backing of conspiracy theory group My Place Townsville (MPT), has admitted to embellishing his military record, and also that he “never completed” university as he had claimed during the campaign.
All 10 of the city’s councillors have publicly called on their mayor to stand down.
LNP opposition leader, David Crisafulli, told reporters on Monday that he wanted to “see the legal advice” but maintained Thompson’s position as mayor was “untenable”.
“I know the frustration in that city, I’m seeing it, feeling it and about it from hearing from mates,” he said. “I do believe his position is untenable.”
Guardian Australia understands that Miles would seek further legal advice after receiving Thompson’s response. He will need a bipartisan agreement with Crisafulli to stand down the mayor from caretaker government, or wait until after the next administration is sworn in following the 26 October election.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Miles said he anticipated Thompson would seek a supreme court injunction to fight his being stood down.
“That is something that would be open to him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does pursue those avenues,” Miles said. “I think that would be a shame for Townsville.”
Despite months of pressure on Thompson, Miles said he had not previously sought to force the mayor from office out of consideration of the legal principle of innocence until proven guilty.
But Miles chose to launch the last-ditch bid to give Thompson the boot after receiving advice from the CCC last week that its investigation could take “many, many more months”.
The premier said his hand was forced after he consulted with local MPs – including Katter’s Australian party’s Nick Dametto – who told him the situation at council was becoming “even more dysfunctional”.
“They all thought that if there was action that could be taken it should be taken,” he said.
On Sunday, Thompson responded to Miles’ plans to issue show cause on social media.
“Let me be unequivocal: there is no justifiable cause for such an action,” Thompson wrote on social media.
“This would not only be an attack on a political rival but also an affront to the democratic rights of the residents of Townsville.
-With reporting by Australian Associated Press
