Published March 2025
Ashgrove’s Madonna Jarrett has a plan to address the three key issues that have recurred in the thousands of conversations she has had while doorknocking – the cost of living, healthcare, and housing.
Second-time federal Labor candidate for Brisbane Ms Jarrett said: “I think I’m the best candidate because I have lived experience (in policymaking) and my values really are about looking out for other people, listening, caring, coming up with solutions.”
She said although people still find the cost of living tough, they have also recognised the government’s actions such as tax cuts, cheaper childcare, cheaper medicine, and electricity rebates.
Hitting back at claims that Labor is not fiscally responsible, Ms Jarrett said they have introduced two surpluses, and inflation has decreased.
“There is a role for government to play in terms of cost of living, but it has to be done in a way that is responsible and doesn’t blow out budgets,” she said.
Having started her career in health, access to affordable health care is close to her heart, and so she is advocating for a walk-in urgent care clinic to be established in the inner city.
On the hot-button issue of housing, Ms Jarrett believes the Housing Australia Future Fund, set to fund 30,000 affordable and social houses, incentives to train more skilled construction workers, and their first home buyers scheme will all make a difference.
Ms Jarrett believes inner city development is a positive thing, with the right infrastructure.
She said a good example is Labor’s business case to build social and affordable housing and a new home for 3rd Space, a homeless support service of which she is a board member, in Ivory Street, with the Fortitude Valley train station close by.
However, there are some developments within the electorate Ms Jarrett does not support, such as two private pools which are proposed to be built over the Brisbane River – one at the Teneriffe Banks project and one at Howard Smith Wharves.
“Locals are telling me even from the drawing they don’t want it, they’re saying ‘this is our river’. It’s also giving private interest direct access to the river that the public won’t have access to.”
Ms Jarrett also acknowledged that flight noise, though it has abated some, is still an issue.
She said the noise is “a lot less” than it was six months ago, before Transport Minister Catherine King gave a directive to compel planes to fly over the water more often.
As to what she thinks should be done, she said her approach is always to listen to what the community want.
Ms Jarrett calls herself “a renewables person” who works in the policy space for that area, and believes they have “a really solid plan” for safe green renewable energy as opposed to nuclear.
She said she would support residents who are currently advocating for a solar battery to be installed in New Farm.
“There’s some really smart technology coming in which is why we should be taking advantage of that.”
Equality is also something Ms Jarrett is passionate about, having worked internationally with organisations like the OECD and the European Commission on policies to bring women into the workforce.
“These are (policies) that you see Labor introducing now, which is access to child care, cheaper child care, giving women superannuation on their maternity leave.”
