Corruption Watchdog Probes Mayor on Claimed Military Service

While Australia doesn’t have a specifc law banning “stolen valour”, there are criminal penalties for misrepresentation.

An Australian war veteran wears his medals, including a service medal from the Vietnam war (Far-L), at the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Service in Sydney on Aug. 18, 2016. PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

The mayor of Townsville—the largest settlement in north Queensland and Northern Australia—is in trouble over claims he made about his military service during electioneering.

At the recent council election, Troy Thompson defeated Jenny Hill—the mayor for 12 years.