Prior to entering the state parliament, he was the mayor of the Barcaldine Regional Council in central western Queensland.
[1] In 2020, Dillon defeated long-time incumbent mayor Rob Chandler for the mayoralty of Barcaldine Regional Council in a close election.
[4] After criticising the feasibility of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Barcaldine based on the information provided to him in a council meeting, the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA), an independent statutory body which investigates conduct complaints about Queensland local government councillors, announced an investigation into him.
[5] In response Dillon strongly criticised the OIA, labelling the investigation against him "farcical," and called for a parliamentary inquiry into its powers.
[10] In December 2023, it was reported in Queensland Country Life that Dillon was retiring at the next Barcaldine Regional Council election in order to seek selection as a Liberal National Party candidate in the Legislative Assembly seat of Gregory, where incumbent Lachlan Millar was retiring.