[1] He began his working career in Gulgong as an apprentice compositor, and while there he earned a reputation as a fast amateur foot runner and a fine athlete.
[2] When the Boomerang ceased publication in 1891 Thompson found part-time work with the Brisbane Government Printing Office until in the early 1890s he moved over to The Worker, a newspaper with ties to the Labour Party.
[2] Blacklisted from being employed by the conservative Queensland Government in 1902, the ban was eventually lifted in 1904 and Thompson once again began work there.
After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.
[5] In 1920, the new Premier Ted Theodore appointed a further fourteen new members to the Council[6] with Thompson amongst the appointees.