Troy Thompson was suspended from the high-ranking position last November during an investigation by Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).
Months earlier, the 54-year-old faced scrutiny over claims he made about his military, business and academic history.
Last month Local Government Minister Ann Leahy issued Thompson with a show cause notice after she received an interim briefing from the CCC.
The legal notice gave Thompson 14 days to explain why he should remain as the mayor.
Thompson instead resigned from the position, triggering a by-election.
“Let me be absolutely clear about this, this resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing,” Thompson said in a video posted to social media last month.
Thompson intends to run for his old position at next month’s by-election.
However, he is facing questions over a separate claim he made during last year’s campaign that he is a cancer survivor.
During an interview with A Current Affair, Thompson spoke about his health.
“The hardest thing was, and people saw me at my sickest here, I’d had stomach surgery, esophageal surgery and I think for about nine months I lived off a tube,” he said.
“I was told to get my affairs in order, things weren’t well, I wasn’t healthy.”
Thompson never specifically confirmed the type of cancer he had during the interview and never used the word cancer in his response.
9News understands the allegation he exaggerated his medical history has been put to Thompson directly as part of investigations into his conduct.
A source once close to the former mayor said they believe the major medical ordeal he spoke about in the interview was a separate surgery and not terminal cancer.
“It frightened the hell out of me, it absolutely frightened the hell out of me,” Thompson said at the time.
Meanwhile the state government, forbidden from releasing the corruption watchdog’s findings so far, continues to call on Thompson to come clean and to release the show-cause notice he was issued before voters have their say on November 15.
“He can legally release it, he must legally release it, and if he doesn’t release it, it tells you, he’s got something to hide,” Premier David Crisafulli said.
9News has invited Thompson to clarify what cancers he has been diagnosed with, the severity of those cancers and the treatment he received for them.
Thompson declined an interview and has not responded to questions but he has released a wide-ranging social media statement which has addressed the claims he made in his campaign.
“I reject the suggestion that calling myself a ‘cancer survivor’ was misleading,” Thompson said about his cancer survivor claims.
“I have had cancer, and I also endured major surgery, nine months of illness, and was told to get my affairs in order.
“Those experiences are personal, but they are also real. That battle shaped me.
“I shared it to connect with people who know what it’s like to fight through hardship.
“It was never about politics – it was about survival, resilience, and honesty.”
