Under-pressure Townsville mayor Troy Thompson has returned to work two weeks after his colleagues submitted a unanimous vote of no confidence.
Thompson's first order of order today was to remove reporters from the council chamber in north-eastern Queensland.
"I might ask if it's ok that the press may leave the room, now if it's possible," he said.
"It's transparent and it's live streamed so they can watch it any time."
Thompson did not speak with media in Queensland but he did provide commentary in the form of a video statement.
"Great day today and it was fantastic to be back in the office and representing the people of Townsville," he said in the video.
Thompson took a leave of absence after an interview on A Current Affair, where he was caught out exaggerating his military credentials.
"I spent five years in the military in Perth so I was in signals, in Swanbourne, in Karrakatta, Fremantle and SAS Swanbourne," Thompson told the program.
His service number suggests he was only in the army for six months in 1991, he completed a cooking course as part of the Army Reservists and he was never in the SAS.
"I probably didn't say it right pre-election, but I certainly spent some time with people from SAS," Thompson said previously.
He wrote 105 words so offensive they sent two world powers to war
"I'd never purport to be a soldier of the SAS.
"And they're the most respected soldiers we have. So it's important.
"I apologise to all services as well as veterans and Defence and I think it's important to put that out there because, you know, I respect the military."
The independent body in charge of council behaviour was concerned by the exaggeration of Thompson's military history and referred the matter to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC)
9News Queensland contacted the CCC today to find out the progress of that investigation but the body declined to comment.
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