Karina Anderson claims her son James Michael Waugh was mistreated in hospital

The mother of a regional Queensland man accused of plotting a terrorist attack has taken to social media to accuse Qld Health and police of mistreating and failing her son, who has been held on remand in a secure mental health facility for almost two years.

The mother of a man accused by police of plotting a terrorist attack in Bundaberg claims her son was mistreated while in Bundaberg Hospital.

James Michael Waugh, 29, was charged with a terrorism offence in November 2020, after police raided his home during a joint counter terrorism operation involving the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police Service.

Police allege the Kepnock man and former journalist was planning to undertake a terrorist act in the Bundaberg CBD after seeking firearms training two months earlier.

29-year-old Kepnock man James Michael Waugh is facing one count of acts done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts following a Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team investigation. This offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Picture Facebook

When he appeared before the court in May 2022. his lawyer Daniel Hua had the matter adjourned “for completion of a psychiatric assessment regarding the issue of fitness to instruct.”

Since his arrest, Waugh has been held at The Park, a secure mental health facility in Brisbane.

His mother, Karina Anderson, made a number of Facebook posts accusing Queensland Health and the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service of inadequately caring for her son and his family

“Our story like many others is sickening and shows the power Qld Health has over all of us,” Ms Anderson posted.

She alleged: “The Mental Health team at Bundaberg lied, bullied and were very unprofessional to my entire family. For 5 months they were unprofessional, downright horrible to our family.

Karina Anderson, mother of alleged terror attack plotter and former journalist James Michael Waugh, says her son is innocent.

“We are well known and many know the truth. So I’m grateful for the beautiful people in Bundaberg who support us.

“WBHHS and QLD Health have caused my family so much suffering. Failures at every turn. I hope to be a voice for those failed.”

Ms Anderson continued to post about her alleged mistreatment, saying Bundaberg Hospital did “not refer” her to any support services despite her “sobbing”. She claimed she was told “nothing” about her son’s well being.

She has since become a patient advocate, supporting an inquiry into Bundaberg Hospital, which will investigate claims of malpractice after a number of complaints from the local community.

The Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service said it’s bound by a very strict duty of confidentiality and is therefore unable to comment on individual patients or consumers.

“WBHHS also understands there is a current court case in relation to this media inquiry and our service does not comment on matters before the courts,” said a Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service spokesperson.

“In general, WBHHS is confident that our mental health team provides high-quality care for our consumers with complex and intensive mental health support needs.

“If anyone has a concern about the care of a mental health consumer, they can raise the issue with our clinical governance unit or alternatively they can formalise a complaint through a range of external agencies including the Office of the Health Ombudsman.

“WBHHS urges media to be sensitive to the complexity of these cases.”

Waugh was due to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court again on Friday, August 18, 2022.