Queensland Greens

About

Charles is a health researcher and lectures at QUT, where he’s studied movement problems in Parkinson’s disease, workforce health, and has developed real-time remote monitoring systems so that rural Australians can access supervised cardiac rehabilitation. He and his family have lived Brisbane’s west for fourteen years, where he chaired the at Kenmore State High’s School Council for three years.  

“I’m running for Indooroopilly because this community wants a voice in State parliament that’s really about the future, not just the next 36 months, and takes a long-term view of Queensland’s energy, environment and economic future.

“We are heading down the wrong path by massively expanding coal-mining in Queensland and adding coal-seam gas to the mix. 

“It’s not just the known environmental costs, abuse of landholders’ rights and the new risks to aquifers, productive farmland, food security and of maritime accidents on the Reef that I’m concerned about – it’s the squeeze on local businesses, higher education, tourism and other non-mining sectors that concerns me. 

“With a high dollar and competition for skilled workers, throwing all our eggs into the fossil-fuel basket isn’t just a bad idea environmentally – it’s absolutely not the way to build a stable economic future”, said Dr. Worringham.

Charles is also pushing for reforms to Queensland’s public health and hospital system. 

“Queensland Health staff provide an amazing service but the whole system is under pressure.  It needs a major overhaul, and neither of the old parties have shown themselves up to the task. 

“We need to get services much closer to people, reduce the need for rural Queenslanders to end up in a Brisbane hospital, and make serious new efforts to help people avoid those chronic conditions that cost them – and the whole community – so dearly.  This requires a whole range of initiatives, one of which is making active transport far more convenient and attractive.  Around Indooroopilly there are great opportunities to achieve this.

 “I am also very concerned at the erosion of accountability in the Queensland parliament”, said Dr. Worringham.

“With no upper house, an Assembly where over half the members are Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries or their shadows, a diminished role for the Speaker, and blatantly political appointments of public servants, parliament is a virtual rubber stamp.  Our legislature also has more than 130 registered lobbyists, many working for the resources sector, but not a single Greens MP.  Indooroopilly can put that right and make a real difference to Parliament.”

Charles, a life-long runner, also enjoys canoeing, music, and on weekends he and his wife may be found taking in a movie or walking in Brisbane Forest Park.