Our egregious con man mayor is now more beaten than a rented mule but that hasn’t stopped him continue braying at the moon. But the good news is accompanied by the infuriating minister Ann Leahy trying to play ‘you should be so grateful to me’ card. And the Daily Astonisher gets the badly wrong in its timeline of this saga.
It’s Batwoman and Robbo to Gotham’s rescue … again!!! A Townsville developer tries it on, but fails to fool the double act of Batkovic and Robinson. ;
Townsville gets an eye-watering $800k wedgie, but will anybody be held accountable? One councillor is already ducking for cover for his and his colleagues lack of oversight.
And we have found one of the wittiest stand-outs among the cartoon coverage of the Orange Abomination’s visit to Pommyland. But he’s again proved he is no laughing matter, with his most overt attack on free speech to date..
Any support you can offer to help meet Nest costs will be greatly appreciated. Sincere thanks to those folks who already helped out, it has been of great and appreciated assistance. But that damn wolf remains camped on the Nest’s doorstep, so if anyone feels like pitching in, the donate button is at the end of the blog.
The Sacking Of Troy … Another One For The History Books
Right back attcha, mate.
In less than two weeks, the Troy Thompson/Birnbauer/ Barry gravy train is headed down a dead-end siding where he will be unceremoniously bundled off to fend for himself in the wilds of reality.
On Thursday, Local Government Minister Ann Leahy told parliament that based on CCC information suddenly to hand, she was issuing Thompson with a show-cause notice, giving him two weeks to say why he shouldn’t be pineappled as mayor.
Welcome as it was, it was also one of the greatest attempts at political arse-covering in Queensland politics, a daunting task in the case of the well-upholstered Ms Leahy. This plodding sham of a minister showed no grasp of simple maths which explains why she isn’t in the running for Treasurer. She tried to make herself out to be the Usain Bolt of politics, suggesting she was taking swift action because “the Townsville community had been “left in limbo” for nearly 250 days due to inaction on the matter by the former State Government”. For some reason, it didn’t occur to her that the apparent discreet nod and wink to the CCC to take their time, which they dutifully and inexplicably did, meant she and Crisafulli have been responsible for Townsville being in limbo for an extra 244 days. And with the added outrage of seeing this arsesole being paid his publicly funded $5000 week salary for sitting on his bronzer and taking potshots at one and all, including Leahy and Crisafulli themselves, all the councillors and most of the TCC staff.
Thompson has reacted in typical TwoNames fashion, ‘everybody’s to blame except me and I’m gunna sue yooze all’. He even wants to put the premier and his minister in the dock, which might be justified in other matters, but not this one.
So, the next big question after he is rissoled, is not so much what happens, but when. Just how quickly we can start back to the normality of everyday incompetence, back-biting and intrigue. The ‘Pie has good info out of Brisbane that Premier Crisafulli has started dabbling in the LG duck pond already, and has a couple of favoured candidates he likes for mayor.
The Bulletin is punting on a swift frog march bnack down to the polling station, with one of its more witty head lines.
So Vhat Happens Venn?
All this led to mate who is keen on telling the tale of current issues in Venn diagrams, coming up with his take on matters. You are all no dount familar with Venn diagrams, those intersecting circles of two or more different subjects with the intersecting overlap naming similarities. The chum came up with this one for TwoNames after hearing his latest rant on FB.
But The Townsville Bulletin’s Time Line Summary Of This Saga Missed A Crucial Detail.
Predictably and justifiably , the paper has started crowing already, not feeling it necessary to wait for Leahy’s official determination (let’s face it, she has little choice left now).
A chortling front page …
… and a two page spread, featuring a photograph of an ill looking Thompson looking every inch a beaten man (thoughts and prayers, mate) which gives a pretty good summation of the matter.
EXCEPT … a crucial and no doubt deliberate face-saving omission in that blue backgrounded time line at the bottom of the page … let’s ignore the mistaken date on the second entry (only a year ahead of themselves, nothing surprising there) which starts:
Ahem. Editor Poulson, please note the date.
Missing is what should have been another crucial entry between February 24 and March 16, which would have read:
MARCH 9 2024 Local blogger The Townsville Magpie raises serious questions about Thompson’s character and relevant personal, military and business history ahead of the 2024 election. The Townsville Bulletin was in possession of all this same supporting evidence published The Magpie’s blog, but chose not to run it, because The Bulletin didn’t think the public needed to know, since Jenny Hill was going to win anyway.
The rest, as they say, is history, so thank you, Townsville Bulletin. It is so suitable and so ironic that your regular honking on about you’re lying ‘We’re For You’ slogan is obscured by Thompson on your front page.
Crowing one end, shitting on the Townsville public at the other. The Bulletin and Thompson aren’t all that different really, are they?
A Case Of A Delayed Development Developer?
The world of the land and home developer is a red tape minefield, and as Kerry Packer so famously pointed out, any legal business advantage is there to be taken.
So there was nothing illegal about the boofheaded try-on by local devloper Stephen Ellis when he put this innocuous sounding request on the agenda for last week’s council meeting.
$50,000 for a block of urban land in Townsville? ANYWHERE in Townsville?
Pull the other one, it yodels.
The ‘Pie would very much like to know from whom Mr Ellis obtained this valuation, and if indeed the person was a registered valuer … evidence would suggest not. In light of recent council events, The ‘Pie was particularly interest, that line that the several council departments obtained ‘feedback’ and didn’t object to the sale. Aren’t these galahs supposed to provide councillors with a wide spectrum of advice which in this case, would’ve surely flagged the risible price? But no, the proposal was just put up, seemingly with a shoulder shrugging ‘the price is not our job’.
But that wasn’t going to wash with Clr Batkovic, who smelled a sizeable rodent in this proposed private sale. Her polite term was that the deal didn’t ‘pass the pub test’. She then laid into the whole process as ‘unfair’, and not in the council or ratepayer interest, proving her point with some pre-researched comparative land valuations from surrounding Wulguru. Her numbers would suggest the land could be worth up to six or seven times the proposed $50,000. Her argument that the deal was on the honker and the land should be sold by public tender was backed by Clrs Robinson and Ellis, who both argued for greater transparency. Both felt it could reflect badly on the council. Then a couple of other councillors twigged that they’d better look suitably indignant and like they knew what was going on, too, and put a word or two.
The proposal was unceremoniously dumped and if and when the council decides to sell, it will go to public tender. And it sure won’t go for fifty grand.
You Always Remember A Wedgie, and Townsville Won’t Forget This One
Especially when it was done by some nameless arts maven without any council oversight. Councillors are ducking for cover, but they can’t hide from this debacle of wasted public funds. This ill-conceived Wedgwood Exhibition idiocy saw only $140,000 returned in ticket sales for its cost of $800,000. One Nester accurately called it ‘a sick joke’ because of the current uncertain financial state of the TCC, but The ‘Pie believes it was doubly so because it was so transparently such a round peg in a square hole. Here’s how The’Pie summed it up in comments on Thursday.
The Magpie
Townsville gets a massive wedgie.
But will anyone be held accountable? As the following from an informed reader laments, it won’t be councillors, who are already ducking for cover. It is said comparisons are odious – the following perspectives sure are.
Brady Ellis was first cab off the rank, trying for a pre-emptive strike in blame shifting.
You’ll note, in defending the Wedgwood: Artists & Industry shortfall, Cr Ellis repeatedly shifted responsibility from councillors to staff. With live industrial action rolling through TCC, that lands like a smack at the workforce.
•The exhibition: Cost about $800k, took ~$140k in ticket sales from ~8,500 visitors. Council pitched it as an international-standard coup; the ledger says otherwise.
• IR backdrop: Council’s own notices say 10+ weeks of protected action are impacting services (incl. bins), with a 48-hour lockout threat floated. Independent local outlets reported the same. 
• Perspective 1: The CEO’s package has been reported in the $500k–$600k range; executive recruitment fees in Australia typically run ~16–25% of first-year salary. So salary + search fee easily sits in the same ballpark as the Wedgwood bill.
• Perspective 2: (Councillors): Current base pay: Mayor $230,836, Deputy $156,974, Councillor $138,501. On that math, $800,000 ≈ 5.8 councillors’ annual base—call it “about six councillors for a year,” or “five if you want to be conservative.” 
The take: Big cultural shows are policy choices—councillors own the risk and the result. Pointing at staff during an active pay dispute isn’t leadership; it’s scapegoating the people keeping the city running.
Clr Ellis’s point that this oversight gap has now be fixed brings up a interesting question: if councillors now the ability to second guess our art luvvies, will this arrangement extend to the million+ dollars the council flick-passed to TEL for event attraction?
Some will point to the Major Events Acquisition Panel (MEAP), which has oversight on the choices put before it by TEL Major Events thingy Chelsea Cavanagh, but with the exception of MEAP chair Jamie Fitzpatrick, no one on this panel gives confidence that they are in touch with the city’s tastes, wants or enthusiasms. And why is a bloody lawyer on this panel, such would only be needed when a deal starts to roll.? And we all know lawyers don’t do this sort of thing for nothing, even if the reward isn’t money.
Besides, it is just yet another layer of bureaucracy accountable to no one. Will they put their choices, with the required outlay and reasons before the council for consideration? The one council officer on MEAP is a career bum polisher who fills the totally manufactured nonsense position of GM, Council Community Lifestyle, a position which is a left-over of Labor’s favour seeking featherbedding at LG level. (No offence to the woman herself, nobody’s expected to sack themselves because of their pointlessness, it’s a matter for them .)
The ‘Pie’s guess is councillors won’t get a look in, because that would mean that TEL could be forced to offer KPIs and pre-existing data to support and justify their choices. Something they have never had to do, before or after whatever it is they claim to actually do.
The ‘Pie Rarely Agrees With The Australian …
… but the headline and the cartoon say it all for the old bird.
‘Bowen Arrow’ priceless!!!
Amerika
Before we get into the unpleasantness that is the Orange Abomination, have a gentle laugh through gritted teeth at the wittiest take on Trump’s visit with King Charles.
… and there was …
But we stop laughing when we see in plain sight Trump’s attack on free speech, which he effectively says encompasses any criticism of himself. And that extends to revoking tv licences from those networks which offend him. Americans must be reeling at this increasingly overt coup happening right before their eyes.
And Finally ...
While in principle, The ‘Pie is opposed to any increase in domestic garbage sorting, he feels this could be a good idea.
And we leave you with an exclusive, an unreported moment missed by the tabloids.
“Donny, you plebeian grub, you’re never going to know whether I am or not”.
………..
An interesting week but not a patch on what’s coming up. The ‘Pie will be here and hopes you will be too. That donate link to help out with Nest costs in below.
A by election now watch all the cookers come out and run for mayor. Funny thing i have heard this week the ones that are going to run are. Les walker ,Aaron harper, Mark Molachino, Harry Pattel Ann marie greaney. Twonames thompson cannot run thank garwd. Maybe stephen lane/lame might have a crack. Clinton hawk was also mentioned but he should stay in his trucking job. Anyway till next week this is Indian Joe out……
There’ll be lots of speculation in that department for the next few weeks until a field is under starter’s orders. Harry will be there, Molachino has been positioning himself publicly for a few months now, and Greaney will probably be tempted to have an ill-fated shot as a Jenny Hill Lite candidate. Walker, Harper and Lane? Not deven these discombobulated, punch drunk, unaware collection could be mad enough to consider a cynical run as leader of the city they have all shown they couldn’t give a twopenny fuck about.
Greaney will throw her large hat in the ring. Frothy is a definite and will run an organised and tidy campaign. Clinton Skyhawks and realestate agent Stephen Lame don’t stand a chance in hell and would be wasting their time. I reckon Kopittke might take a tilt but the Magpies word on the street is that he won’t. Either way, a large conglomerate of cookers and weirdo’s will be drawn to the mayoral election like a moth to a flame.
Beer…popcorn…game on.
By all means speculate, but The ‘Pie is content to let others do the gum flapping until the field is declared. But the bird will predict two things: some of the expected runners will not run, and a couple of surprise candidates seem ready to pop up.
I think you’re right re surprising candidates, Pie. Private Cupcake Stewart comes to mind………:(
hmmm, maybe, but would he think he has a realistic chance.He only looked good relatively beside the other two hopeless galoots.
I dont want your vote anymore
But you are going to listen to me
Wanna bet?
Guy, you must be having an excited rumble in your pods thinking about Troy’s demise. We know that you are going to throw your hat into the ring for his old job, so c’mon, please tell us what is your mayoral
Campaign going to centre on? What will YOU DO for Townsville? Please, no pithy or hollow statements and no spin and bullshit. Please outline your key deliverables.
If we have to elect a new Mayor, then Thank heavens they’ll only be in for around 2 years before they face the electors in March 2028. I doubt there’s enough time to have elections before next February 2026.
C,
I believe this will be a good election as we are voting for a mayor only. None of this Team Hill business where the councillors are a bunch of subservient aurtomatons.
A stand alone mayor and councillors who, will think for themselves, and represent their division without fear or favour.
Well; that’s the theory anyway.
BR, as Hercules Gryptype-Thynne would have responded, “You silly twisted boy, you.”
From the wise and articulate Neddie Seagoon, “Whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat.”
You old codgers getting misty-eyed for the fifties?
He’s fallen in the wah-tah
Gooooone Threenames has resigned from office!! Gutless turd knew the writing was on the wall. Bye bye pustule.
Eckles classic answer to Gryptype-Thynne when asked “are you still here”? To which he replied “Everyone’s got to be somewhere”
Jeff,
I learned a long time ago from Sir Harry Secombe via the television a little bit of wisdom that I still practice to this day. It applies to the gentlemen more than the ladies.
He said before going on stage, or on parade to address the troops, or even just going to the shops, remember ABC and XYZ.
ABC and XYZ
Always Be Cheerful and Examine Your Zipper.
Guy, not if my bullshit filter is on I won’t
Honestly, if you do run and just want attention, “I don’t want your vote” is a pretty attention-grabbing slogan.
Good idea
Brady admitted to ABC on Thursday morning that he never attended Wedgewood, and he had to find excuses for why he didn’t attend. It was well worth listening to the interview because he ducks for cover saying he didn’t have the time. When he was informed the exhibition was on for months, he concluded and pretty much said it wasn’t in his personal interest as he doesn’t care much for the arts. If you haven’t heard the interview, it was well worth a listen. I think it was around 7.35 am on Thursday.
And that is why the exhibition was doomed from the start, it was a very niche. Mum and Dad were hardly likely to take the kids along for a fun activity- and it wasn’t open on the weekends which is when people might have popped in after the Sunday markets. It wasn’t even open when some of those cruise ships docked, which might have been their ideal market.
Your kidding, surely? Not open on weekends? Not open when cruise ships were in town?
If that is correct, there really needs to be a major investigative debrief on this whole shemozzle, hours like that in the CBD is setting this thing up to fail. Frankly, that is outrageous, irresponsible idiocy.
The ‘Pie rarely recommends such action, but someone should be sacked. And publicly, not quietly shuffled off to some quiet corner.
Can confirm that gallery weekend hours got cut back during covid, and the then-TM, kept it that way afterwords, despite protestation from the team, the then-director and the public.
Running a popular public gallery in a major city just Monday to Friday is unheard of anywhere else, sheer bloody madness. And blind incompetence. Whose running PC, the Mad Hatter or Humpty Dumpty?
Completely agree, Pie. Thankfully that TM was quietly flicked not long after director Johnathon left. I don’t think they saw eye to eye.
That is definitely not correct, a quick look at the website would show the opening hours. The gallery is open on weekends.
As a councillor it’s your job to turn up to stuff you don’t like. Like welcoming baby ceremonies, and events on a Sunday or a Friday night, luncheons with seniors and press conferences. You can’t just pick and choose to only represent council at things you like.
Yup. Part of the job.
No one in their right mind is going to baby ceremonies
You’re talking about politicians here.
Given the Local Government Minister’s show cause notice to Mr Thompson, it appears that the CCC investigation is complete.
It will be interesting to see if the CCC release a public statement about their findings on this matter in line with the new Crime & Corruption (Restoring Reporting powers) Amendment Bill passed on the 30/04/2025
We all know it’s common for state governments to push for their own candidates in local government so they can control the decision making process.
This is even more relevant since the banning of donations except via the State run political parties.
As I have said before, the big decisions in Townsville are controlled by state bureaucrats and the Cartel (political) Parties.
Well yes, re your last statement, because that’s where the big bucks are bestowed from. No surprise there.
Anti
Ellis is a grand standing Fuckwit, who should just learn to stop making a fool of himself.
These types of exhibitions are booked a few years in advance. Yes, the Mullet era, where she claimed Townsville was the ‘Yarts’ capital of northern Australia.
TCC spent a small fortune on advertising the event, they hosted multiple openings accompanied by cucumber sandwiches, washed down with copious amounts of bubbly.
All councillors and staff were given free tickets and they couldn’t even give them away.
Council did not even have the decency to throw open the doors in the last couple of weeks, enabling the great unwashed to view the cup and saucer event free of charge.
A swing and a miss Brady? More like a disgraceful disaster.
If this was all started in the dark Hill era, how come the budget allocation was over the last two years. Which means there was plenty of time to review it and raise common sense questions.
One really BIG question is what on earth possessed anyone to think this exhibition would fly when the one and only sold out, record breaking and wildly popular PTG event was the Lego show FFS? Not a flicker of a clue there?
Mr. Magpie
The council elections were held in March 2024, the exhibition was launched April – till mid August 2025.
Council issued a media statement that they had secured the exhibition in November 2024.
The exhibition would have been penciled in while the Mullet was still on the throne.
There would have been many months of negotiations taking place between council and V &A Museum.
Plenty of people ducking and weaving, the blame lies clearly at the feet of this current council and all councillors, for not having the balls to object and not approve payments.
Should also add the Wedgwood event was supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, so TEL would of had their fingers in the pie.
I suspect I might have been identified as part of the demographic busting to attend the Wedgwood exhibition. Retired professional woman. I’m even particularly interested in vintage style, so if I couldn’t be bothered to catch a ferry to the mainland, why would people travel to Townsville from around the world to attend this “exclusive “ event? Maybe EVERYONE connected to this fiasco just needs to get out a bit more.
… of town, maybe.
That proposed property deal for Stephen Ellis: when did it become ok for a local council CEO to be promoting an exclusive deal for a developer? What’s so special about Ellis Developments ? Surely if getting that land was so important to him Ellis could afford to be the highest bidder through Council’s regular process? Are we going to see other developers try it on. Like this? Why didn’t the CEO just tell Ellis to put his money where his mouth is?
You tell us, you apparently have a theory (let me guess …).
And just how did McCabe ‘promote’ this deal? Just as importantly, why would someone on $600k per risk being dodgy for a pissant matter like this? You seem to be hinting at some dark conspiracy, for which we would very much like some evidence.
Sorry if the skepticism pisses you off, but asking questions is what journalists do when seeking evidence. Listen, Browny, when you’re trying to bring someone down – for whatever reason that may be – nothing is more damaging to your cause than provably false allegations.
Come on, out with it. The ‘Pie is happy to publish your claim if suitable evidence is provided – it’s The Magpie that gets sued, because no one knows who you are.
It’s a simple question: why didn’t the CEO tell Ellis to bugger off? Why should Council go to all this trouble approaching the Minister when Ellis could just buy the land through the regular process of putting in the best offer? You said yourself the $50K is a joke. It’s just one more reason why the CEO shouldn’t have indulged Ellis. How was the CEO promoting it? Just by taking the proposal to the Council meeting. He’s endorsing a special privilege for a particular developer. And it’s insulting to the Councillors to even suggest they might agree to go along with a deal like that.
Not much conspiracy theory here. Just common sense questions.
Yes, you ARE suggesting some sort of conspiracy theory, by your own very words ‘why didn’t the CEO just tell Ellis to bugger off’, which carry the unmistakable taint of wrongdoing. And any thoughts on WHY McCabe would risk looking dodgy?
Mate
I’m not from around here. I was only visiting because I was tipped off that your blog might have some gossip about the upcoming election.
Where I come from a CEO who did that to advantage a developer could expect to be packed off to the CCC. You obviously know your town better than I do.
Nice try. They do things differently in Wollongong, do they? Nice avoidance of the other question, too …
But let’s go back to the council meeting and get some perspective that perhaps The ‘Pie should’ve included from the start. here’s hows the land debate began, after the staffer called Kimberley (no other distinct name given).
Greaney: Kimberley, there has been some conjecture around the sale of the land at 3 Carron Court. Are you able to clarify that we’re not actually selling the land for $50k, I think that is what the public perception is?
Kimberly: No, that is correct. The exemption today is purely to proceed to the next step which is for the minister to provide a ministerial exemption so that we could go, should we choose to, to dispose sale of (the property to the applicant). However, that would be based on commercial terms. The $50k valuation is what (the applicant) has obtained himself, as a valuation, obviously (we would do our) due diligence and work on commercial negotiations should we elect to dispose of the land.
Greaney: Why do we need the ministers consent to sell this land?
Kimberley: When we normally dispose of land, we can apply for exceptions we have (indistinct) landholder in this situation … this exemption allows us to direct the sale without going to public tender.
All that in plain language is that the ministerial exemption was needed if the sale was with just the one person who had unilaterally put in the offer.
And this was the precise point that Batkovic, cape a flutter, swung in on, saying ‘this doesn’t pass the pub test’. She then cornered Matt Richardson into admitting that the exemption was only required if the council decided to deal with just the one applicant. Otherwise, the land would go to public tender or auction (and would therefore not require any ministerial permission.) Other councillors suddenly woke to what was going on, and scrambled to jump on the transparency bandwagon.
Robbo then hit the nail on the head when he said : “I believe if the council were to go down the path of disposing of this asset without a written tender or without offering it for sale by auction, we would face a reputational risk, in particular with transparency”.
The item was kyboshed forthwith, with no action to be taken on seeking an exemption.
An AI search using terms like Queensland Local Government Act sale of council land or reserve quickly brings up the relevant sections of the Queensland Local Government Act and Queensland Local Government Regulations.
This agenda item should not have got past the relevant Director, CEO and Chief Legal Officer (he is supposed to check for anything that maybe C-in-C etc) which are supposed to vet all draft agenda items before they are placed on the final meeting agenda.
It appears that Councillors and relevant Executive and senior staff need education in both the legislation and AI.
The Wedgwood idea would’ve been drummed up by an old fossil who has a penchant for knitted blankets and chinaware. Townsville is the wrong environment for such a lame mind numbing event. The return on investment is a disgrace and has been rightly pointed out, someone’s head should roll.
Wollongong??
Mate, if you can’t see the CEO comes out of this stinky, I can’t help you.
Again … tell us why.
This is one of those emperor’s new clothes situations.
You’re really not being a serious person on this one are you? That quite simply is one of the most piss weak prevarications possible.
The ‘Pie knows you’ll never tell us, but why have you got this obsessive agenda about McCabe? He may or may not be bent to some degree, who knows, but if you’re claiming it, back it up. No more silly playground twaddle.
It’s not my job to try to nail the CEO. BUT he’s doing a pretty good job of it himself.
(Sigh) this is getting tedious, but …. how is he doing that?
I can recall the T/Bulletin running several stories a few months prior to the last Council Election re the Wedgwood Display.The previous Mayor & Cr Liam Mooney were praised in the press. and i believe the $800000. Quoted did not include Insurance Costs.
Further to my comment re the Wedgwood Display ,one the stories in the T/Bully was 4 Nov 2024 “Nothing Like Nana’s China ” It’s behind a paywall so i can’t give any more details
To put a positive spin on the Wedgwood disaster, if Cr Brodie Phillips words are to be believed, then there is going to be greater scrutiny by Council on larger expenditure items. That should mean that a Report needs to go to Full Council and ratepayers will be able to read the report providing it isn’t declared C-in-C.
Just to remind everyone of Cr Brody Phillips words, here’s the link from the Nest last week.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17Pf8avAKg/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Brodie Ellis?
The democratically suspended mayor has gone full meltdown on Facebook. Posting many comments, letters and documents in an effort to show people that he is honest and upright, not delusional and full of fuckwittery. Sorry Troy, you’ve failed mate. You are a seriously defective unit who needs urgent mental health care. C’mon son, just pack up and leave Townsville.
Did you know that
Josiah Wedgwood I (1730–1795):
He was the father of Susannah Wedgwood, who became the mother of Charles Darwin.
He was also the father of Josiah Wedgwood II, who was the father of Emma Wedgwood.
Emma Wedgwood later married Charles Darwin.
This made Charles Darwin and his wife Emma first cousins.
Josiah Wedgwood was a staunch advocate for the abolition of slavery.
He even made a medallion “Am I not a man and a brother”
Everything becomes more interesting with knowledge.
MEAP announced December 24 and begun in Jan 25 with a stated aim of 20-25 “Major Events” in 2025
https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/os-data-2/townsvilleenterprise-com-au/documents/townsville_events_strategy_blueprint_final.pdf
I need help from Magpie followers to make a list of the major events brought to Townsville by TEL this year so far…….I’ll start
1. Australian Festival of Chamber Music…..ohh shit sorry my bad we had that one and lost it to Cairns
Over to you
Hee Haw
Don’t be so hard on TEL – they have lured Mr Jelly Roll to town.
Troy is done for. His $225k annual rort is about to end. Hooray. And what a dickhead he has been in the past 2 weeks, making claims against the Premier and a Minister, even questioning the CCC. What a completely unhinged moron. A failed businessman, army cook, One Nation candidate and TCC mayor. He can’t even keep his original surname! Bye bye douchebag.
That was ‘failed and sacked One Nation candidate.’
Todays facebook post by the suspended Mayor demonstrates he does not understand democracy. His chamber voted unanimously for a decision, and he is merely 1 vote from 11, but the representative of their vote regardless of his opinion.
To not endorse something as their representative, against the chambers vote is undemocratic and a reason amongst many why he does not deserve the Mayoral position.
If for some reason he is not dismissed by the Minister and he gets through the CCC investigation, then this would be considered another breach of the CCOC, forcing his own dismissal as outlined in last Monday’s special meeting.
How is he getting his grubby paws on internal emails and documents? Refer to the email from McCabe last week to staff and the Landsdown/Haughton briefing note he has published?
Good question. In the busted-arse world of LG regs, surely he hasn’t been signed in to all correspondence as a suspended mayor under criminal investigation(guilty or not)!!!
Headmistress. Where is that email published?
Twonames fb page last week.
Barfly – the excellent Townsvillians Blocked by Troy Thompson page on facebook has been publishing all Two names rants and “evidence”. It is a most informative site.
ABS reveal 1200 immigrants arriving in Australia each day. No wonder people are sleeping in cars or parks.
Maybe it is time to either pause migration or decrease numbers significantly.
No argument that imigration is too high, at the moment, but how does that compare with the decline of the birthrate? What is the offset?
Interestingly, given the social background of immigrants from poorer cultures where family is their sort of retirement insurance, the birth rate of newcomers isn’t likely to go down … in a safer environment, the ingrained cultural urge for large families is likely to skyrocket. And nothing wrong with that … an Aussie is an Aussie, and is the fastest way to integrate.
Barfly, the figure you really want is Net Overseas Migration. Which is the number of people coming in, less the number of people leaving.
For the year ended March 2025 it was ~865/day.
So… ~335 leave per day.
Its really worth learning what the stat’s mean before bandying them about.
“Lies, damn lies and statistics.” Mr Twain or a British PM, or maybe someone else.
For me, I prefer a fancy fabrication with a hint of truth to enhance plausability, but I never lie.
Have you just given us the exclusive that you’re standing for mayor?
WRONG
First and last chance. If you’re going to make that sort of comment, you HAVE TO say why.
There’s a headline in the Bulletin today about the Lansdown project so I went to the TCC page and found this statement:
“Date published: 12 September 2025
Construction on essential infrastructure for the Precinct continues, alongside detailed design work for further roadworks and updated plans for raw water supply. Read the latest in our September project update.”
When I click on the “Project update” button it goes nowhere. Is that a sign?
Well, it’s a sign of either providence about Lansdown or another sign about the competency or otherwise of the Bulletin.
Mention it once and now there’s a new update:
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/lansdown/news/lansdown-takes-shape
Still only promises though.
A welcome up date, with the council’s confirmation that internal road building is progressing. More updates like this will deflect a lot off negative suspicions about the Lansdown agenda, triggered right from the start with J. Hill’s love affair with the shonky Magnis mob, and several other touted tenants who have abandoned plans to build at the Hub in the Scrub.
But it seems Quinbrook is on track with its plans, although being a bit vague about it staged agenda.
However, Quinbrook’s NQ spokesman Brian Restall made an interesting comment, when he said ,“Exporting our natural resource to other countries unprocessed creates jobs and wealth overseas. Recent Government initiatives at a state and federal level have given us confidence to invest in value adding onshore to Queensland’s natural resource and in doing so create job and wealth in the state where the resource actually is,” Mr Restall said.
“Queenslanders and Australia should enjoy the benefit from the jobs and wealth creation that can come from onshoring critical mineral value adding. To do this requires power infrastructure and this is what this first application is focussed on delivering.
This has been the commonsense approach that has been ignored by successive government overseeing our demise as a manufacturing nation, all of which have opted for the lazy and cheap dollars of digging it up and shipping it out’ without any attempt at value adding to those mining minerals that would be appropriate for some on-shore treatment.
And if The Magpie may, he has a suggestion for Mr Restall when he says “We’re working with the local community and will be hosting our second community drop-in session on 12 November 2025 at the Woodstock Sports and Recreation Club.”
It would be a good idea to schedule at least one or two such sessions at more amenable sites, maybe like shopping centres here in town, or other suitable venues. Few would go to the not inconsiderable inconvenience of heading 40kms out of town for an ‘information session’. And it is the whole ratepayer base that is putting its share to this Lansdown project.
Actually, government hasn’t been completely ‘off the case’ in trying to facilitate ‘value adding’. We canvassed the Bohle Plains Renewable Energy Precinct a couple of days ago and besides Lansdown there’s another government-sponsored project closer to town:
“The Queensland Government is delivering common user infrastructure at the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park in Townsville to support the development, extraction and production of critical minerals.
The Queensland Resources Common User Facility will be located at the Cleveland Bay Industrial Park in Townsville. The facility will be a hub to trial production processes for commercialisation, enabling prospective miners to begin producing mineral samples at scale.”
Whilst some, including the federal opposition, keep saying that government should get out of this business and let private enterprise show the way, the examples of Glencore at Mt Isa and BHP in the coalfields demonstrate that government initiatives are just about the only thing that is keeping ‘value adding’ alive and well at the moment. Even the Solquartz battery thing at Lansdown looks like it is waiting for either a nearby solar farm or Copperstring to deliver the electricity it wants to store. Fortunately, ratepayers are not big spenders in Lansdown although it is still not clear who is picking up the final tab for the Haughton pipeline which is pivotal for the hub in the scrub.
The QRCUF project has been built up in typical Astonisher-fashion to be something it is not, but it is still a valuable new business for the town, albeit very limited in employment prospects. From what information that can be gleaned from the chatterguff media releases, this is simply facility where you send a rock and they tell you what’s in it, what concentration and if you’ve struck it rich.
It’s not exactly a “business” at all:
“The State has been working in collaboration with potential future customers of the facility to identify the base equipment required, develop a base design, and determine how the facility will be owned and operated.
The state-owned mineral processing facility is intended to be operational for vanadium processing in late 2026, with capacity to expand over time to encompass processing other critical minerals like cobalt and rare earth elements.
Queensland company Sedgman, a member of the CIMIC Group, has been appointed as the Managing Contractor to lead the detailed design and delivery of Queensland Resources Common User Facility – a key action under the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan that aligns with the $315 million Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy.
I see the Bohle Plains Renewable Energy Precinct was moved to approval with conditions on the 10th January 2025. https://epbcpublicportal.environment.gov.au/all-notices/project-decision/?id=9b593a36-2bb6-ed11-b596-002248156aec
AECOM did initial work on this project including environmental impact studies but have since removed anything related including EIS. The EIS identified a number of rare and endangered species that could be impacted on the 250 hectare site, including the Southern Black throat finch. The same finch they tried to stop Adani with, but since it is solar panels…
As I understand, the Qld Govt. owns the land and would lease it to a solar farm. A company owned by Twiggy was the intended company, but most renewable energy projects tanked in line with iron ore prices.
The project failed to raise a mention with the State members, both current and former, and apart from the initial headlines in 2021, even with the Astonisher.
Consultation with the community was non-existent.
Conservation, Environmental and Green groups have been conspicuous in their absence.
Initial application
http://epbcnotices.environment.gov.au/_entity/annotation/e54b4925-162a-ec11-80cc-00505684c563/a71d58ad-4cba-48b6-8dab-f3091fc31cd5?t=1634086745754
You seem to be trying to take a stand on this project but it’s not clear just what. But one thing the ‘Pie found interesting was this.
What? ‘Additional community consultation will be completed as the Project progresses ??? A very neat bureaucratic kick to balls for the public, because that suggests it will all be too late for any community concerns to have an impact. (They probably shouldn’t anyway, it’s pretty straightforward, but process is process.)
The information, which is comprehensive, especially the initial application, for which we thank you, contains this environmental line: Area. No threatened fauna species or migratory species were directly observed within the Project Area during surveys You can almost hear the disappointment leaking off the page.
However – as always in two-bob each way stuff like this, there’s always an however.
So skip straight to page 10 to save trolling through piles of boofademic and acadilic guff (e.g the researchers has to show off a bit telling us they discovered the site had sus scrofa and Canis lupus familiaris, which to plebs like you and mean are ”pigs’ and’ ‘dogs’, but I guess Babe and Rover aren’t nearly as impressive as their Latin monikers), skip straight to page 10. There you will learn to your horror about the dire predicament of the Barerumped Sheath-tailed Bat …
…. while there appears to be a happy hunting ground for Pavo cristatus … but let’s call it Indian peafowl.
Maybe KFC could introduce a curried menu item.
Perhaps there will be more community engagement or is that enragement, when the bulldozers move in or when panels get built next to existing houses.
Considering this is a large energy project, it is surprising how quiet it has been kept.
Quite right, BB but none of the APPROVALS so far is about a solar farm. The application by the state is “. . . . intended to provide a developable footprint for the development of renewable energy infrastructure.” Presumably, when a developer comes along with an actual proposal the public consultation will start.
One of the claims made in the (now slightly dated) literature is that “The precinct is focused on attracting companies involved in renewable hydrogen and advanced battery manufacturing, with companies like Queensland Pacific Metals already committed.” I wonder if that is the same QPM that “committed” to Lansdown for a little while but has now given up that ghost. Wheels within wheels.
It’s been headless chook time around here for more than a decade now, and not getting much better.
FUCK IT!
I’m running for mayor in the next local government elections.
HIDE & SEEK for $5000 A WEEK. WHY NOT?
Oh, and I love those new brown paper shopping bags.
Good to see Troy Thompson has not taken the calmly respond to show cause approach and has instead taken the air the dirty laundry and go down in screaming pile of flames approach. This always ends well for the airer of the dirty laundry. And has the added bonus of making them look even more mentally unstable than they already are.
The ‘Pie does not normally publish any of this deluded galoot’s drivel, but what the hell, won’t have the chance much longer, so here … typical half-baked lawfare by MyPlace whackos. Legally, this is utter balderdash.
Troy is an a-grade fuckhead of the highest order. I can’t believe that he thinks the whole word is against him. He is publicly dissing everyone from TCC staff, councillors, state and federal government ministers, the media, and so on and so on. His mental health must be brought to attention. He is not mentally stable and simply cannot hold the office of Mayor even if he was innocent. He is a borderline psychopath with a dash of a narcissistic personality combined with possible autism (and I’m not criticising autism as that is an illness that cannot be helped).
And can any of his support network/cookers/my place friends please tell him once and for all that his suspension has been enacted by following a democratic process. Just because a person is elected through a democratic process does t make it undemocratic if that person is suspended, sacked, punished etc.
Barry is right about one thing – the whole world IS against him.
Poor pet.
Steady up Pie, what we have here is probably one of many preliminary drafts of his reply to his show cause.
If this is the case, his reply will go very well…………for Townsville.
Are there any beds spare in the Townsville Secure Mental Health Facility? I think one may be required in the next little while, for you know who!!!
I thought Three Names was in Melbourne for the Brownlow Medal Count and Other awards tonight? He been nominated for Skid Mark of The Year.
Which part of “FUCK OFF” doesn’t he understand?
Qld. elections were 26th October 2024. Ministers were not sworn in until the 1st November 2024.
Too many head knocks, too many names, too many watches, too many days off.
His ‘evidence; proves jack-shit. As someone pointed out in the comments, the state elections were held on 26/10/24…Leahy wasnt even the minister on 20/10/24.
Magpie, in your main article this week you state:
“This ill-conceived Wedgwood Exhibition idiocy saw only $140,000 returned in ticket sales for its cost of $800,000.”
I can see from the newspaper clipping that some journalist has made a similar “$800,000″ claim and you quote an unnamed “informed reader” using the same number but where does it actually come from? In an ABC TV news item from earlier this year a reporter says the exhibition cost “over $300,000″. Now I know that technically, $800,000 is “over” $300,000 but really, who has done their homework here? Or are the numbers irrelevant?
It has always been $800K, and The ‘Pie, while not having seen evidence of that, knows full well that if it was wrong, the TCC would be saying so with megaphone on top of Castle Hill. It would be a massive downgrading and a let-off of scale.
It has not ALWAYS been $800K.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-05/wedgwood-pottery-victoria-and-albert-exhibition-townsville/105127858
Good article and good information, but the fact remains that $800k remains the accepted figure, even by the TCC. And it has ALWAYS been $800k since the non-profitability became an issue.
SO NOW THERE’S A BIGGER QUESTION: WHY THE BLOW-OUT?
The ABC article was written the day before the exhibition opened, so when and why did the cost skyrocket by $470,000, a tasty increase of around 60%.
This maybe?
“Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) supports major events like the Wedgwood: Artists and Industry exhibition by providing funding and strategic assistance to attract and grow the visitor economy.”
$330,000 to “secure” the exhibit probably doesn’t include costs like staffing and promotion.
Wedgie-Gate
Half a million dollars just written off? You are right to be asking questions, Pie.
Clarabelle, why don’t you take a look at TEQ? They may have put up the missing $470,000. Perhaps start with the local member.
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that now that Council is trying to distance themselves from the exhibition they have added figures (such as staffing and capital expenses) that help bulk up the figure. This would easily help bring it up to the $800k considering the duration of the show. The only issue is that this would be an erroneous equation that suggests the entire team was only working on the exhibition, full time, for the entire exhibition period. In actuality, once an exhibition is installed, there is little work to do beyond educational programming, and the bulk of the team are working on other things.
I would be very curious to see which it is.
How long does Threenames have to complete his ‘training’ punishment? Is it 2 weeks or is it within the first 6 months of him being returned to office. That’s if he is returned to office. I mean, he can put that training down on his CV and LinkedIn profile as it will be one of the only actual legitimate pieces of training that he has completed. I can’t believe this muppet has a girlfriend, how is that possible, what does she see in this grifter??
$5000 a week and a big red truck.
Troy hasn’t finished burdening the rate payer yet. If he is dismissed, the rate payer funds a by-election. I was living down south when another mayor was unceremoniously dumped. The by-election wasn’t cheap but no doubt money well spent.
Why hasn’t the Bulletin or the Magpie addressed this aspect of the coming decision? Will the Magpie dare publish this, or keep it for himself as his next scoop?
Your not a regular reader, are you, DB?
Harping back to the big wedgies given to ratepayers, didn’t Foodtrucks install herself in MEAP? If so, she has been involved with it in the previous TCC and the current. Hence the enormous screwup.
With Barry’s little party coming to an end, it looks (coincidentally) that, after due cogitation at state level, his little celebration may grind to a halt about the same time as his sucking on the ratepayer’s tit was scheduled to finish.
Think you’re getting a bit tangled up, Jeff … MEAP didn’t exist until quite recently, so Wedgie nothing to do with them that ‘Pie knows of. And yes, when it it was initially put forward as an overview group, Foodtrucks was first to put her hand up, but the decision was apparently reversed or never came about.
One of Twonames key supporters, Clinton Hawkes, has recently turned on Twonames. Some interesting comments on Hawkes Facebook page. Seems that Mr Hawkes is happy to see Twonames rolled as this will open up an opportunity for him to campaign for himself the Mayoral role in the by-election. Loyalty hey? I wonder if Stephen Lame is still Twonames bestie? I’ve heard that Mr Lame has also distanced himself from the toxic suspended mayor.
So much fun, so little time.
Has Hawkes said he’s going to run, or is that just your attempt at relevance with a conspiracy de jour?
I for one, would like to see Hawkes run.
Along the lines of Dick and Jane and See Spot run. Because funny, funny Spot.
Hawkes as Mayor is not funny, and would only cause more chaos than we currently have.
Check his Facebook page. There is enough hints and comments that indicate he would like to take a shot at wearing the possum furs. Just what we need, a cooler truck driver as Mayor.
Mr Magpie, with the end of Thompson nigh, I would be curious as to what potential candidates exist for the Mayoral role? Who would the Magpie and the Nesters pick as their favourite candidate? This is not a pisstake, it’s a genuine question. It would be good to have a conversation around who would be a good leader in Townsville. Sadly in this region we have a history of voting in fucktards as Mayor and also as CEO, so I think now is the ideal opportunity to start discussing our future as we put Thompson behind us.
Thank you
First up, we don’t vote for the CEO, that’s an appointment on contract, approved by the councillors from a short list chosn by a professional recruiter.
And The Magpie assumes you’re new to The Nest, because there has already been much growing speculation of the kind you suggest. But at this stage, it is more or less pointless yakking about who MIGHT run, not who might win. So The ‘Pie leaves it to you and others until he sees something solid to say.
Vote 1 for David Kippin! He will sort this town out ASAP.
Yeah, like he did TEL.
Get fucked
Errr … shouldn’t that be ‘vote for me but get fucked’?
Rates, wages and debt going up baby !
Fuckin’ genius, mate, how did you work that out?
There are a lot of mad people out there, worse than ThreeNames even. It seems that thousands of right wing conservative evangelical christians, mostly in the USA (where else?) believe the end of the world comes this Tuesday or Thursday American time. They will bodily assend into the clouds there to meet Jesus.
I hope it happens as there will be a lot less Trump voters and that has to be a good thing.
However:
Friday morning is going to be one HELL of a disappointment for these deluded fuckwits. I wonder how many there are in Townsville?
Under the circumstances, if I were Jesus, I’d be verrry worried.
Yes. The loaves and fishes episode would suggest JC is a Democratic.
Our illustrious leader has just promulgated a claim of a “staggering” and serious decline in youth crime!!!
I wonder which is the lucky State? Can’t be QLD or not TSV anyway, it reads more like a forecast than a significant success, a bit more detail would be a great help.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/qld-premier-claims-staggering-crime-drop-following-controversial-adult-crime-adult-time-laws/news-story/c387e91d02deb2aa076b460cf42de81f
Rd-R,
I wish the Crisafulli government every success as they have done something as opposed to Puddleduck and Harpic who did nothing, however, I will be convinced they have made the progress they claim when our three State members park their cars in their driveways with keys in the ignition and leave their house back door unlocked.
On the latest bonanzas about to rain dollars on Townsville:
JetZero, that seems to be an otherwise reputable company, said about a year ago that they would rely on renewable energy provided by Copperstring (?) and would begin operations in 2028. But Copperstring will not begin transmission before 2032.
Quinbrook,…, I have me doubts. It still has the same address in an upmarket shopping mall. The office is nothing more than an answering service and a mail collection point for half a dozen other businesses who can’t afford their own offices, or are into something more shady.
Quinbrook markets itself as a management company of already functioning operations, much like Lend Lease. They provide impressive photographs as evidence.
Digging a little deeper, I found operations that consisted of a corrugated iron shed and another that was construction site, both in the UK. In the US, there was supposed to be something that consisted of an abandoned development site .
Brian Restall has an interesting background in business, moving on every few years. I saw that he is a director in a number of small businesses, although the only one I could substantiate was a small operation installing solar panels. Hence his experience in solar.
However, his main claim to fame is that he and his wife have a boutique whiskey distillery in Byron Bay, called the Lord Byron Distillery. Seems like they turn out a respectable drop.
Then, one day,…., Margot Robbie came into their establishment and expressed an interest in distilling gin. According to Brian, even though covid got in the way, he developed a product with which she approved.
I’m almost tempted to attend his info session. As the ‘Pie said, they could have picked a better place to hold it, or perhaps that’s all they could afford or, they don’t want anyone attending.
It would be good, read in the Astonisher that just one of these schemes was going ahead. Construction was finished and operations had started.
All we seem to see is that another coffee shop has opened.
I see that Albo is doing his best to entertain the UN muppets which includes the WEF. I wonder how many more billions of our taxpayer dollars are being promised to busted arse countries, communist regimes and to purchase out of date war machines. What an absolute fuckwit. He is killing off our once great country.
Naww a WEF conspiracy theorist. I didn’t know they let you people out without supervision.
Hardly anyone in all those vacant seats, Albo’s main audience were a few mates, who flew over with him.
He’s in the USA and their Prez couldn’t even give him a few minutes just down the road a bit! Even though we recently propped up the Yank economy with a contribution to the submarine “white elephant” which will be obsolete before its even built.
Well everybody, the much talked about (in some circles anyway) Rapture has just occured as predicted. Fantastic, except it seems that absolutely no-one on Earth qualified to bodly assend into the clouds to meet Jesus and go to Heaven. No-one at all! What a bummer. I bet all the happy clappers did not see this coming. Now they can all start to prepare tonight’s evening meal. Ha ha.
Bet that Jesus is rejoicing though.
And this from the man Labor believed to be the best person to lead this state. A desperate low even for this desperately low individual idiot.
The same Miles who made/makes backroom deals with unions. The same Miles who put Labor stooges into all the Queensland government boards. The same Miles who promoted Labor affiliates into top bureaucratic roles.
C’mon Steve, all of you do it regardless of political background.
I’m gonna throw my hat in the ring for the job.
I will stand for Truth, Justice and My Way.
No Qualifications
No Experience
No Idea
I reckon that this will put me ahead of the pack.
We’re looking for candidates with the following attributes.
LIARS : Applicants with experience in Real Estate sales are encouraged to apply.
HYPOCRITES : Applicants from Magnetic Island will be looked at favourably.
What, no lawyers?
A totally nonsensical decision and complete abrogation of community interest by elected councillors. One up for MyPlace Sov Cit tin foilers, but a valuable additional reminder of the bullet we’ve avoided by arsesoling Thompson.
Don’t speak too soon Your Pieness, we don’t know the list of candidates yet. If Gimpie can do it, so can we just as easily!
Remember we voted in our last clown more to oust Hill! Bit of “sow the wind and reap the whirlwind”!
But we WILL know which side of the fence candidates fall on. And through Thompson, we do therefore know what a danger spiteful, vindictive con artists like him pose.
Idle thought: would I be allowed to open a ‘men’s only’ gym? Don’t think so. So how come ….???
Why on Earth would anyone want to open a mens only gym? The delightful examples of womanhood who attend the gym make it a most delightfull place to be. The same for the ladies I expect, with fine male examples such as myself in attendance.
Amuising if creepy, but there’s a very serious point … a men only gym would fall foul of anti-discrimination laws if anyone tried it, so not sure why a women’s only gym is allowed.
But then again, what gal wouldn’t want a sweetie like a fat, bearded and tattooed shaved headed charmer of a bloke who just wants to post a few pix on Instragram of delightfully sweaty gals putting their knees next to their ears in a place called the Peach Pit.
Just saw Don Farrell AKA Sir Les Patterson commenting on wine exports to India.
He even wore a powder blue suit (as per Sir Les), a mismatched tie and a shirt that needed ironing. He had a a warm glow on his cheeks and was less than articulate.
https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2024/09/25/australia-brings-vineyard-diplomacy-to-india-trade-meet
And Barry has resigned, to recontest!
Troy thompson has now quit
The last desperate throw of the dice.
But we should all be aware with little doubt, this is not some desperate last minute decision … when a jelly-backed minister Leahy and a quivering David Crisafulli enticed him with a year’s suspension on full pay, he couldn’t believe his luck. This ‘resignation’ ploy has been in his back pocket since day one, but why hurry, lots of renos and big red trucks can be organised in a whole year on that sort of dosh, and he has pocketed the best part of $250k of public money while waiting for the moment to resign in this manner.
But whether he can run again is also in the area of just because he says so, doesn’t make it so. There is still the CCC investigation and the evidence already in the hands of the minister. His claim of running again is an obligatory attempt at facing with a lie (if this bloke ‘good morning’ you’d check the sky). There is a good chance that he will be disqualified.
But if he isn’t, then we the voting public will have the pleasure of letting him know just how widespread his support really is. He never won the first time, Jenny Hill lost … he was elected on the understanding he was not Jenny Hill. A perfect political storm of loathing for Hill, the withdrawal (and subsequent passing) of Fran O’Callaghan, mythical qualification claims, and no other viable choice led to this long running saga.
But the question for the government this morning is one simple calculation: if he had been sacked when he should have been, and left to wait out the CCC findings, how much more costly than $250k would it have been … with a very predictable chance that it may have cost the taxpayer nothing.
And it’s already gone national.
Pie, Just saw Leahy on the news making the announcement of two names resignation and his statement that he will run again for mayor. She stated the the CCC have told she cannot release the report on him. Curious!
Not curious, outrageous.
If her information was good. enough to issue a show cause notice, it is good enough to to inform the voters of its contents.
So Townsville’s national shame has resigned as Mayor. Finally.
But.. oh no.. don’t think he’s gone. He’s running in the by election.
Super Troy, Man of Many Names, Defender of the Electorate, Promoter of the Truth (according to Troy), is planning to save us from lies and corruption.
How lucky we are.
He will fail in a spectacular fashion like everything else he undertakes. He’s been trying to groom the voters for the past few weeks with his claims of fighting corruption. No doubt this will be his campaign platform if he is deluded enough to recontest. Will appeal to a ragtag collection of fringey conspiracy nutjobs but I have faith in the voters that we haved wised up. Will we ever be rid of him? The guy gives me the creeps and Im sick of the sight of his scaley, pockmarked mug.
Troy Thompson has announced his resignation on Facebook, so I’m told. He says he will run for Mayor in the upcoming election. Because he resigned before the CCC pressed charges is he eligible to run?
The suspended mayor has resigned. But we will still have to read his name at least one more time on the mayoral by-election ballot paper.
That will hopefully be the last time we see or hear or read about this fool.
Two Names is dead. Who can we laugh at now? We will miss you, you twisted fruitbat.
Not so fast, if he has his final way, we the voters will need to preside over his last rites at ballot box.
And in comes Herr Nick from Ingham to be Townsville Mayor. Please people, think of our Crocodiles. None will be safe. And Castle Law. I tell you, if a Crocodile invades my home, there will be a fight, unless I can outrun the Missus.
And on the federal scene, the Murdoch campaign to get rid of the unelectable Sussan Ley has started. Expect more backing for the Pickled Walnut';s preferred choice, a candidate more closely aligned to Trump’s UN sentiments.
This was rather good. I didn’t mind Vanstone, we could do with a few more conservative politicians like her. And a few less like Hastie.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-25/andrew-hastie-warned-of-division-amanda-vanstone/105817288?
Yep, The ‘Pie has a bit of time Fatty Vanstone, clear logical speaker, even if you don’t agree with her, you know not only just where she stands but why. rare in any other pollies of current crop, state or fed.
It appears Mr Thompson has outsmarted the establishment and will be running for Mayor. Unless of course the government rush through legislation like they did a few years ago to stop Fran. Nothing is off the cards but when it comes to politics.
The people will decide his future!
To stop Fran? What on earth are you talking about? God had a hand in her not running, vale, Fran.
I should have said when she ran for councillor the first time. My apologies
Outlawyer, why would the governmwent want to prevent him from running anyway? After all this time, the Townsville electorate has had plenty of opportunity to get to know Troy Thompson. If he has the audacity to run again and the electorate chooses him above whoever else runs, then we know who we are. We don’t need the government to save us from ourselves.
Yes we do, but his eligibility will be decided byb existing laws and any negative CCC findings. But The ‘Pie rather fancies the idea of having a further hand in kicking him out, so let him run.
In the confusingly written Bulletin survey of possible candidates, they say they believe the LNP will not be fielding a candidate, despite telling us a few lines earlier that political parties are prohibited from putting up cansisates. OK so nod and a wink territory but with donation scrutiny tightened, very tricky.
But what the paper obviously doesn’t know is that Dametto is the be The Kid favours, The ‘Pie understands Dametto has been actively canvassed on behalf of the Premier, and there could be interesting developments if he did get in. Interesting that Dametto ois good mates with Molachino, so a bit of brotherly friction due to build up there.
I am concerned about Mr Dametto and his integrity, if all candidates have their life turned up, this might be Damettos downfall, better staying where he is. Wayde Cheisa who was the LNP pick for mayor seems to be shifting to the Hinchinbrook electorate, would it be an Ingham thing, Crisafulli, Dametto and Cheisa all working together… perhaps. Pushes the exer insignificant Katters out, if they lose Hill, Dametto resigns and loses, its all Robbie…
Chiesa is also known as a Crisafulli-approved political possibility in some role, possibly not overtly LNP. We could do worse, seems so far as The ‘Pie knows to have a solid record.
And listen, dickhead, posting unsupported evidence of the sort you tried on is a low act, and affects more than Dametto. You offer no proof of your claim, and given the general tenor of your often scummy comments, The ‘Pie doesn’t believe them at this time. Try harder, you pilgarlic.
Speaking of CCC findings, it would be ‘transparent’ of Troy Thompson to publish the report given to him by the minister. It’s his to publish whereas the CCC or the minister will probably never release any of the case against the mayor. And maybe never say anything at all about the matter again.
Good point. TwoNames is in possession of the allegations, and the email is his property, he can with it what he likes, as The ‘Pie understands it, you have to have someone agreement that an email they are about to receive is confidential and must agree to that before receiving it.
Would he have the guts to lay bare what he is refuting?
Hopoe whoever lends him his deposit learns a lesson.
Twonames has come out and stated he is not in possession of the information, he refused it, he only has the letter, not the files and that is why he exited the show cause process to avoid being caught up in a carefully laid trap by the minister, and didn’t she look salty at the presso yesterday, she has taken a hit, and may be in trouble on this one. Twonames found a loophole, he used it, and whoever gave him the advice, because he’s not that sharp, well played. As far as the Kid, hes gone quiet, but he is pulling the dametto strings for sure, the kids from the Herbert are as thick as thieves, not sure if that’s appropriate when referring to politicians.
It is definitely NOT appropriate … very unfair on thieves.
And in breaking news, Barry has resigned and says he’ll run again in the mayoral by-election.
Are you keeping up there, Jeff?
Nah, I was reading other stuff and didn’t have the radio on. The burst I finally saw on my browser was 47 mins old. Before I posted here, there were no other references here.
It’s okay, I’ll go back to my corner.
Time to let the lunatics loose…you go first Guy, Les you next, Aaron, Scott, Food Trucks, Stephen…and Harry.
Three candidates have confirmed they’re running for mayor: Anne-Marie Greaney, Mark Molachino, and Nick Dimento.
Nick is taking a significant risk by stepping away from his current role to contest the mayoralty. If he’s unsuccessful, he’ll be out of a job. It might be more strategic for him to wait until the next election—if he doesn’t win, he could still pursue the federal seat of Herbert.
As for Mark Molachino, this would be his second attempt. Given his previous loss, his chances seem slim. Anne-Marie Greaney might have a reasonable shot and could be a competitive candidate.
Regarding Les Walker, Aaron Harper, and Harry Patel—along with Molachino—it’s clear the public has moved on. Their time has passed, and the community has spoken.
Sadly Townsville is likely to elect Dametto.
A large part of Townsville think castle law is a great thing, without realising that its pointless.
These same people are willing to overlook that Dametto was happy to stand beside Nazis at the recent rally, despite knowing who they were.
And a large number of people have forgotten that he promoted a policy at the last election based on the ridiculous premise that aborted foetuses are left alive in buckets in abortion clinics.
No one will forget any of the above, there’ll be plenty like you to remind them during the campaign. And that’s a good thing, we need all the information, positive and negative, about all candidates. crisafulli might be regretting tapping Dametto to leave KAP and have a run at mayor, the happy snaps with the nazis is not a link the premier wants … or deserves.
Don’t be surprised if The Kid’s second choice, Wayne Chiesa, suddenly pops up … Wayne recently resigned as chief pooh of Regional Development North Queensland, with no other job waiting. He wasn’t sacked … was doing well, was competent and quite liked by all reports … so one wonders if there was a long game at play here, being controlled out of Brisbane.
Ah yes..Wayde Chiesa formerly Economic Activation Future Cities, Townsville City Council.
Didn’t he do a fair chunk of time with TEL?
No idea. But that sounds like a reason to avoid him
DN..Dametto will appeal to the Hillbillies and the Catholics. Clampetts & Micks locked in.. is there anyone else left?
Troy Thompson only won because no one knew who he was. I can’t believe anyone at all familiar with Greaney could think she could get up. A vote splitter; hardly a winner. She’s even more despised than Scott Stewart was.
Malcolm,
If Foodtrucks runs for Mayor will she have to resign as Div 3 Councillor?
I not up with Qld LAG in regards to this and have heard some say yes she will have to resign and others saying she can run for Mayor but if she loses she can still retain being our Div 3 councillor? The latter seems like an each way bet.
I hope for the good of all the people in Div 3, our lazy Foodtrucks loses and fucks off…
As The ‘Pie understands, there are slightly different rules in a mayoral only election, and councillors can retain their position if they run and lose. If it is otherwise, expect a veerrry reduced field.
Ditto, Mogs
Greaney has been dead wood from day 1.
Now the fun begins. The speculation of standing candidates will run a course of bullshit until they either declare or deny it. We won’t be let down with the quantity of candidates.
One thing for sure, the powerplay of Walker Street will be on display, with Councillors given a free hit. They will line up shoulder to shoulder.
Let’s hope there is not an oversupply of candidates who could dilute the vote and allow the cookers get the suspended/resigned Mayor back in.
In worst case scenario, if he is elected, then the Minister can reapply the show cause notice, because those reasons have not changed, provided the CCC haven’t issued a finding likely to lead to disqualification.
If the minister issued a show cause, what stops him resigning again before the deadline and going to a by election…. This is bigger than the vote for mayor. What I am seeing is that no one has faith in our council, this may be a move that breaks Townsville City Council apart. Who’s coaching this pr*ck behind the scenes, its a good move, one that now has the national spotlight.
Say what? Bit muddled, mate.
What the actual?? Thompson will go out in straight sets.
Double fool faulted.
To be eligible to run, wouldn’t Barry have demonstrate that he ad paid for and completed his rehab course?
Good point.
Show cause could be issued immediately, before he is sworn in.
Also note, there are at least 2 parliament sittings before any potential by-election. Enough time to raise a Bill and have it vote in if required. I am sure they could come up with something in that time if it is not already in progress.
I am sure there are a lot of people working to keep him out – legally.
Crisafulli knows full well he needs to be careful with this one, there are three valuable seats up for grabs here, and the way things are going, they could be super crucial next time around.
Well, this is surely going to sort out the Rats from the Mice.
BB, From what I hear, Councillors can run but will not lose their seat if unsuccessfully. If that being the case, I hope Andrew Robinson throws his hat into the ring. He has a good financial head on his shoulders and shows some integrity.
You’ll note that in a sly bit of editorial comment, the Bulletin is using an oldish photo of Robinson with a beard and uncharacteristic wild hair. If this is subliminal disapproval, editor Poulson has bulled the wrong rein in this town.
So begins end game
Can’t wait for your campaign launch Guy.
“Nothing you can do will tear me away from my Guy…” Great campaign song by Aretha Franklin. It’s from the album, ‘Runnin’ out of fools’. Everything perfectly suits you. Don’t thank me now, leave it ‘til your concession speech on election night.
Clinton Skyhawks on the “Townsvillians blocked by Troy Thompson” thread;
Speaking about Thompson, Skyhawks said;
“Haylee 100% but realistically they should refuse his resignation and follow through with the show cause, he is a cockroach that won’t politically die”.
Oh dear, there has been a cooker fallout. Tsk tsk. Anyway, Twonames will run again and I imagine that Brian Venten will be his campaign manager. It will centre on cleaning out a supposedly corrupt council blah blah fucking blah. Twonames really is an unstoppable cockroach that can’t be squashed.
Hardly a falling out if Skyhawks never trusted him enough or let him too close to his campaign. Two names tried his best though.
You do raise a good point though. Has his resignation been accepted, or are they awaiting the show cause timeframe?
Don’t think they have a choice, he’s gone.
I don’t think Hawks can make any claims, what is he zero from 3 and rejected by Katter. The bloke is known to follow anyone that will have him, the flavour being Ellis and Phil at the moment, honestly, he is not a concern, the bloke struggles with the alphabet, but he can lift heavy things, so maybe he can hold the door on Thompsons exit. Either way its Dametto’s election to lose. The Ingham connection will ring true here, so who wins Hinchinbrook Pie, or who gets it from the LNP? Given its still within the 1st year, does Annette get it?
Good question. How about checking it out and letting us know.
I have a campaign slogan for Twonames:
Vote for Troy, no one knows corruption like him!
To be honest I’d be happy for troy to hang around and act as axe man to get rid of all of the problems
Folks, they walk amonst us.
Guys, now we’re finally going to get the chance to elect a mayor we can be proud of, I urge you to look into David Kippin. I personally know David and he’s always been a big supporter of Townsville. He’s held several influencial, prestigious and successful executive positions during his career and knows how the system works. He has pragmatic and genuine solutions to fix this town’s issues. So give him your support on voting day.
Yup, just what we need, a bloke who awarded himself a massive raise when head of TEL, and got fired for his trouble. Getting yourself rissoled by a mob like TEL is quite an achievement. The Kipper is also deep in the legal mire over the stalled West End private hospital. Not saying anything is his fault, but probably a bit busy to run for mayor.
And with a prime backer like the old coprolite Max Tomlinson backing him behind the scenes, wow, happy days ahead. But Kippin will get the backing of the Chamber probably, for whatever that is worth.
Haha Kippin. People like him will permanently get the gears stuck in reverse. As a Crocodiles basketball Board member, Dave had one job and he fucked that up.
Theres this amazing bloke called Guy he’s the man for Townsville yes sir-eee bob.
I’ve got a monorail to sell you
Hello David, good to hear from you again mate.
Blue Bells. Is there really a need to introduce a new bill into parliament for the purpose of stopping Troy Thompson from running for Mayor again. If this blog is an indication of his popularity then there is nothing to worry about.
I reckon everyone must know the Local Government Act 2009 off by heart now. Sick of fucking hearing about it.
Look at Chapter 1 section 4
Just another piece of legislative selective crap.
Yeah and no. It depends on polling for now, but eventually they need to put something in place to stop cookers doing this kind of thing and making a mockery or our election process.
Elections bring out the worst of candidates and this upcoming Mayoral election won’t be any different. Already Thompson is claiming he will run, and so will Hill acolyte Frothy Molachino and Nick Demeted. Wonderful….
If Dametto resigns his seat to run for Mayor, that another by-election. Barry the bastard’s legacy goes on and on.
Vote Barry the Bastard for Hinchenbrook.
Hello Magpie.
Do you or any of your sources or readers here know what the rules will be for the mayoral by-election?
Will there be a stand up vote at booths or a purely postal ballot?
Turnout either way may have an effect on a long ballot paper of wannabe wearers of the possum fur robes.
Same as they always are. To The ‘pie’s knowledge, there are no exclusively mail-in elections in Australian politics.
Magpie I raised this as Mackay held a postal only vote recently but that was just for a councillor by election when George Christensen resigned.
Some smaller shires are listed in the local government list on the Queensland electoral website as postal only but I can not see what the rules are for a large urban for a Mayor but Mackay postal only may be the rules here.
Yes, The Magpie overlooke dthe possibility in those electorates where voters are scattered over a very wide area.
But it still seems a very dodgy process, which could cause more trouble than solve an access problem.
For a Townsville mayoral by-election the default is polling booths, with postal voting available on application. A full postal ballot is only possible if Council applies under s.45AA of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 and the Minister approves on ECQ’s advice. That pathway is mostly used for small or remote shires. Unless Townsville makes a special application, expect the usual in-person booths plus optional postal votes.
Good info, thanks.
Danza, That’s one fault with democracy. Everyone had a right to nominate. We just have to sort the wheat from the chaff.
And make a judgement about their claims …all candidates should offer inviolable evidence of any such claims they make during the campaign.
And today’s Astonisher front page is interesting … Crisfulli’s boy Dametto featured with Thompson in the background as though it is really a two horse race … and Ma Greaney must be spitting chips, shuffled back into the likely field on the inside pages.
Knowing how to do that is very tricky, given all aspiring and actual politicians know that here are more ways of lying than doing something stupid like telling outright and easily discovered lies about your past.
But the Astonisher seems to have nailed its colour to the mast today, hinting at the idiotic idea that this will be a race between nazi mingler Dametto and the mentally adjacent MyPlace mingler TwoNames Thompson. .
And it’s brown undie time for the woman who believes she deserves the job for previous time served. Ma Greaney must be spitting chips that she is shuffled back into the projected field in the paper’s inside pages.
in his dreams
Pie,
Should be in the classified section,free to a good home.
Feline Footy Final, Pussy or Leo, who ya backing Pie?
As a disinterested spectator, just want a good game … and with these two sides, an extreme is likely … either one will fold and be slaughtered, or it will be a nail-biter to the end.
Seems you forecast both alternatives Pie! A new vocation p’raps?