About Elizabeth

I’m Elizabeth Watson-Brown, your Federal Greens MP for Ryan.

I’m a proud local, having lived, studied and worked in Brisbane’s Westside for most of my life. My own politics was formed during my studies at the University of Queensland in the 1970s. Gough Whitlam’s visionary agenda for Australia was contrasted by Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s authoritarian state that set the police against peaceful protesters for political, racial and environmental justice.

Entering the workforce in the 1980s, I was one of few women to establish their own architectural practice. With the support of my incredible staff and family, I have had a long career in architecture and urban design. I ran my own practice in St Lucia and Auchenflower for over two decades, before becoming Design Director of a leading national firm.

Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to the principle that design should prioritise the needs of people and their community, and the specifics of the environment and place. These values apply to government too: our systems should be designed to help people and protect our environment, not to make billionaires richer at the expense of the rest of us.

I believe Greens policies best address the fundamental challenges we face. Making billionaires pay their fair share, bringing dental and mental health into Medicare, and phasing out coal and gas in favour of renewables, are all practical solutions to Australia's challenges.

I’m deeply grateful to have been re-elected to represent my community in the Federal Parliament. Thank you for the faith and hope you have placed in me, I will continue to work hard for a future for all of us.

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The electorate of Ryan encompasses the western suburbs of Brisbane, extending from the inner suburbs that line Maiwar, the snaking Brisbane river, including Toowong, Taringa, St. Lucia and Indooroopilly. It runs southwest to the Moggill peninsula, taking in Bellbowrie, Pullenvale and Brookfield. To the north-west, Ryan includes Enoggera, The Gap, Mitchelton, Keperra and Ferny Grove. At its heart sits Mt Coot-tha, the Honey Mountain.

The Jagera and Turrbal people are the traditional custodians of this land, and I pay my respects to them.