The permanent closure of Greater Springfield’s only dedicated 50-metre lap pool, proposed changes to Queensland’s bail laws and the state’s recent credit rating downgrade have been among the major issues raised by Jordan MP Charis Mullen.
Returning to West Bremer Radio’s State of Play, Ms Mullen also highlighted recent community events across the Jordan electorate and encouraged residents to take part in a local photography competition for Queensland Mental Health Week.
Ms Mullen said it had been a busy period across the electorate, including the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and PAMA Spring Fest, which celebrated Filipino food, music and culture.
Waterworx lap pool to permanently close
One of the biggest local changes is at the Waterworx Aquatic and Fitness Centre following the privately owned facility’s sale to new owners.
Ms Mullen said several services would continue at the centre, including its indoor pool, which has been leased to the Sam Riley Swim School.
The existing physiotherapy service will remain and new gym operators are also moving into the facility.
However, Ms Mullen said the most significant change for the community was the permanent closure of the centre’s 50-metre lap pool.
“Waterworx is a privately owned facility. The final decision rested obviously with the new owners, but it’s really a significant loss for our community,” she said.
The closure is particularly significant for the Springfield Waterworx Swim Club, which Ms Mullen said had called the facility home for 25 years.
“We’ve got a lot of people in our community really sad about losing what is actually the only proper lap pool swimming facility of its kind in Greater Springfield,” she said.
The swimming club has already secured a new home and will join another swim club, moving its operations to the Carole Park pool.
Ms Mullen acknowledged the relocation would mean additional travel for some families but praised the club for acting quickly to keep its swimmers together.
“They’ve worked so hard to get their swimmers to stay together and keep doing what they love,” she said.
‘Breach Bail, Go to Jail’ before Parliament
Youth crime and proposed changes to Queensland’s bail laws were also discussed, with the Crisafulli Government’s Breach Bail, Go to Jail and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 currently before Parliament.
The bill was introduced on August 27 and includes a proposed standalone offence for committing a serious offence while on bail, carrying a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of 12 months. It also proposes a tougher threshold for granting bail to serious offenders.
Ms Mullen said the legislation had been referred to a parliamentary committee and said Labor would consider the committee process before determining its final position.
She also rejected claims that Labor MPs had already voted against the legislation, saying the bill itself had not yet reached its final parliamentary vote. Recent reporting has similarly distinguished an earlier parliamentary motion from a vote on the final legislation.
“One of the things that we want to do is obviously look at this legislation very carefully,” Ms Mullen said.
“We’re going to assess whether those proposed laws will genuinely make Queenslanders safer.”
Ms Mullen said there were differing views among experts about the effectiveness of the proposed approach and argued the legislation should be judged on whether it improved community safety.
“Community safety is really important and it’s probably, in my view, too important for slogans or cheap political point scoring,” she said.
“If this is going to be a solution that’s going to solve those problems, we need to carefully consider it and get it right.”
Queensland credit rating downgraded
Queensland’s finances were another major topic following S&P Global Ratings’ decision to downgrade the state’s long-term issuer credit rating from AA+ to AA.
The September 11 decision marked Queensland’s first downgrade since 2009, with S&P maintaining a stable outlook. The agency pointed to weak budgetary performance and increased infrastructure spending among the pressures expected to keep debt structurally higher over coming years.
Ms Mullen said the significance of a credit rating downgrade could be difficult for households to immediately recognise but argued it placed additional pressure on the state’s finances.
“What it does mean is that it places more pressure on borrowing,” she said.
“Government then has to spend more money on interest, and that leaves less money available for services and for infrastructure that we so desperately need, especially in areas like mine where we’ve got so much growth in terms of population.”
The state’s major infrastructure program includes transport, energy and hospital projects as well as preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. S&P cited the infrastructure spending increase ahead of 2032 as one of the factors expected to keep Queensland’s cash deficits elevated.
Ms Mullen called for greater transparency around the cost of individual Games venues and questioned whether the government could deliver its planned projects within its stated infrastructure budget.
“They have promised new venues, improved venues, all within that envelope of $7.1 billion,” she said.
“That’s a big ask, and so all we’re asking for is if they think they can do that, then perhaps just show us how.”
Mental health captured through the lens
Closer to home, Ms Mullen encouraged Jordan electorate residents to take part in a photography competition being organised by Her Alliance and Kaleidoscope Counselling Services for Queensland Mental Health Week.
Participants are being asked to submit a photograph representing what mental health means to them.
Ms Mullen said about eight awards were available, with entries closing at the end of the week.
The submitted photographs are expected to be displayed at the YMCA Springfield Central Community Centre during Mental Health Week.
“I think [it’s] a really great idea — simple, but a meaningful way to get our community talking about the very important issue of mental health,” Ms Mullen said.
Competition details are available through Ms Mullen’s Facebook page.
0 Comments