2025 Townsville mayoral by-election

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2025 Townsville mayoral by-election
Flag of Queensland.svg
←  2024 15 November 2025 2028  →
Registered142,775
Turnout72.35% (Decrease2.svg 6.86)
 First partySecond party
 
NickDametto.png
IND
Candidate Nick Dametto Ann-Maree Greaney
Party Independent Independent
Primary  vote62,89613,337
Percentage61.51%13.04%
SwingIncrease2.svg 61.51Increase2.svg 13.04
Mayor before election

Troy Thompson
Independent

Elected Mayor

Nick Dametto
Independent

The 2025 Townsville mayoral by-election was held on 15 November 2025 to elect the mayor of Townsville in Queensland, following the resignation of incumbent mayor Troy Thompson. [1] Thompson, who was suspended from the mayoralty by the Queensland Government in November 2024, recontested the position at the by-election. [2] [3]

Contents

Nick Dametto won the by-election with 62.7% of primary votes. [4]

Background

2024 election results

This section is an excerpt from 2024 Queensland mayoral elections § Townsville.[ edit ]
2024 Queensland mayoral elections: Townsville
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Troy Thompson 50,16746.60+46.60
Team Jenny Hill Jenny Hill 47,41543.86−6.78
Independent Harry Patel10,5299.74+9.74
Total formal votes108,11196.51
Informal votes3,9093.49
Turnout 112,02079.21+4.94
Two-candidate-preferred result
Independent Troy Thompson 53,95652.62+52.62
Team Jenny Hill Jenny Hill 48,57547.38−14.15
Independent gain from Team Jenny Hill Swing N/A

Electoral system

At the request of Townsville City Council, the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) conducted the by-election via post. [5] [6]

Candidates

Candidates are listed in the order they appeared on the ballot. [7]

PartyCandidateBackground
  Independent Sean GleesonFormer detention centre worker
  Independent Troy Thompson Mayor of Townsville from 2024 until 2025
  Independent Harry PatelCandidate for mayor in 2012, 2016 and 2024
  Independent Nick Dametto Former member for Hinchinbrook in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
  Independent Chris PoulsenFormer Queensland Nickel worker
  Independent Ann-Maree GreaneyActing mayor since 2024
  Independent Labor [8] Paul JacobCouncillor for Division 1 since 2024 [9]
  Independent Labor [10] Joanne KeuneFounder of SpeakEze Communication Coaching
  Independent David KippinFormer CEO of Townsville Enterprise [11]

Nick Dametto, who has served as the member for Hinchinbrook in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2017, announced on the same day as Thompson's resignation that he would contest the mayoral by-election. [12] Under Queensland law, candidates running for local government positions cannot be a member of a state or federal parliament. [13] Dametto resigned from the Katter's Australian Party (KAP) to contest as an independent, although the KAP endorsed his candidacy. [14] [15]

Ann-Maree Greaney, the councillor for Division 3 since 2016 and the acting mayor since Thompson's suspension in 2024, contested. [16] Former Mundingburra MP Les Walker considered contesting, but ultimately chose not to run. [17]

No political party endorsed candidates at the 2024 mayoral election. [18] [19] The Labor Party (ALP) has not made endorsements for Townsville local elections since 2008, although Labor members Paul Jacob and Joanne Keune contested the by-election without the party's endorsement. [20] [21] David Cassells, the secretary of the ALP's Herbert Federal Organising Committee, supported voting for either Jacob or Keune, as well as putting Thompson last and Dametto second last. [22]

Campaign

On 27 October 2025, the Townsville Bulletin reported that Sean Gleeson had previously replied to a Reddit post in the "r/Rape_Hentai" subreddit. [23] The following day, he withdrew from the by-election citing "mental health reasons". [24]

During the final week of campaigning, Joanne Keune recruited a lost international tourist to hold her campaign signage in exchange for a ride back to his cruise ship. [25] Keune was subsequently criticised by several other mayoral candidates. [26]

Debates and forums

PParticipant
WWithdrew

List of debates and forums

DateHostParticipants
Gle. Tho. Pat. Dam. Pou.Gre.Jac.Keu.Kip.
28 Oct 2025 Townsville Bulletin [27] WPPPPPPPP

Results

2025 Townsville mayoral by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Nick Dametto 62,89661.51+61.51
Independent Ann-Maree Greaney13,33713.04+13.04
Independent David Kippin7,3257.16+7.16
Independent Labor Joanne Keune5,4155.30+5.30
Independent Troy Thompson 5,0464.93–41.67
Independent Labor Paul Jacob2,8812.82+2.82
Independent Harry Patel2,2362.19–7.55
Independent Chris Poulsen1,9121.87+1.87
Independent Sean Gleeson (withdrawn)1,2041.18+1.18
Total formal votes102,25298.98+2.47
Informal votes1,0511.02−2.47
Turnout 103,30372.35−6.86
Nick Dametto gain from Troy Thompson  

See also

References

  1. ↑ Messenger, Andrew (26 September 2025). "Controversial Queensland mayor Troy Thompson resigns after corruption inquiry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. ↑ Bennett, Emily (26 September 2025). "Suspended Townsville mayor Troy Thompson resigns from role but vows to run in byelection". 9News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Scott, Mackenzie (2 October 2025). "Townsville mayoral election to be decided by postal vote only". The Australian. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  4. ↑ McGuire, Nikita; Poulsen, Jill; Bates, Cameron (16 November 2025). "Nick Dametto wins Townsville mayoral race in landslide victory". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Charles, Caitlan (29 September 2025). "Townsville mayoral election: Council chooses postal vote to cut costs". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  6. ↑ Chomicki, Chloe (2 October 2025). "Date set for Townsville mayoral by-election by postal ballot". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  7. ↑ McGuire, Nikita (16 October 2025). "Ballot order announced for upcoming Townsville mayor by-election". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 16 October 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "PAUL THOMAS JACOB". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 16 October 2025. Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Hill, Daneka (9 October 2025). "Paul Jacob's bid for mayor: Lists housing and traffic as biggest concerns". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "JOANNE MARGARET KEUNE". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 16 October 2025. Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Mercer, Josh (4 October 2025). "Business veteran Kippin throws hat in the ring for mayor". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Fellows, Taylah (26 September 2025). "Embattled Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson resigns, following an 18-month saga". The Courier Mail. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Loney, Georgia; Dansie, Meghan (26 September 2025). "Queensland MP to run in Townsville council by-election following mayor's resignation". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  14. ↑ Davis, William; Strohfeldt, Catherine; Hall, James (26 September 2025). "Bid to boost power in Katter Country revealed in mayoral race". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "KAP Extends its Reach: Nick Dametto to contest Townsville Mayoralty". Katter's Australian Party. 26 September 2025. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Charles, Caitlan (3 October 2025). "Ann-Maree Greaney to run for mayor of Townsville in by-election". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  17. ↑ Charles, Caitlan; Singh Mann, Arun; Mercer, Josh (26 September 2025). "Townsville mayor race heats up as suspended Thompson plans comeback". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Falknau, Crystal (4 March 2024). "Talking Climate with Townsville's Mayoral Candidates". North Queensland Conservation Council. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Merritt, Rachael; Nothling, Lily (27 March 2024). "Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill formally concedes election defeat to Troy Thompson". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  20. ↑ Armstrong, Clare (6 June 2018). "Labor to run partisan ticket in 2020 Townsville City Council election". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  21. ↑ Shirkie, Daniel (25 October 2025). "Townsville mayoral candidates quizzed on details of their background ahead of by-election". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  22. ↑ Charles, Caitlan; Poulsen, Jill (8 November 2025). "Labor backs two candidates in Townsville mayoral race amid ECQ concerns". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  23. ↑ Shirkie, Daniel (27 October 2025). "Sean Gleeson's Townsville mayoral bid rocked by online content scandal". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "Candidate Sean Gleeson has pulled out of the election race citing mental health reasons". Facebook. Townsville Bulletin. 28 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  25. ↑ Mercer, Josh (13 November 2025). "Mayoral candidate Joanne Keune defends using lost tourist to hold campaign sign". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  26. ↑ Becerra Mellet, Gabrielle (13 November 2025). "Townsville mayoral candidate recruits lost tourist in exchange for lift to cruise ship". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  27. ↑ "Ex-mayor Troy Thompson confirms Townsville debate amid corruption probe". Townsville Bulletin. 22 October 2025. Archived from the original on 22 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
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