Published February 2025
With the Brisbane City Council elections in March, and the Queensland state election in October both Central Ward and McConnel re-elected their incumbents Vicki Howard and Grace Grace, ‘elder stateswomen’ who have held their seats for over 10 years now.
Village Voice sat down with these two strong women who reflected on their commitment to community and why, despite predictions of losses by commentators, they have continued to hold the trust of voters.
There aren’t many politicians who can claim a lifetime spent in their representative area, but inner-city Brisbane is home to a rare example.
Member for McConnel Grace Grace said: “I think I’m one of those rare politicians in Australia that has lived all their life in their electorate… I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else other than this electorate, and I think that oozes out of me when people meet me because they know how much I love the inner city of Brisbane.”
However, she emphasises it is never just one thing that wins an election, and said it was important to reflect her community’s values and deliver on promises.
“Delivering for this electorate is easy because I understand it so well,” she said.
Ms Grace said she cultivates this understanding by getting out and about in McConnel.
“Campaigns are always gruelling and challenging, but it is great to get around and to talk to all the electors.”
Grace Grace grew up in Spring Hill and New Farm, attending All Hallows School before embarking on a career in unions and industrial relations.
In 2007 she was first elected to represent McConnel, at the time Brisbane Central electorate, and has served as the minister since then for all but three years between 2012 – 2015.
Her commitment to the area saw Ms Grace re-elected in October last year with a larger margin than last election, despite a swing to the LNP across the state resulting in a change of government.
The guiding principle throughout her career in politics has been balance – delivering policies and outcomes that carefully tread the line between responsible management and ambitious change.
“I love this electorate in that I think they really believe in the great Aussie spirit of a fair go, and a balanced approach.”
“They understand that we are going to deliver housing… and transport, but in a balanced approach, a way that is delivering for the people.”
Ms Grace said an example of this approach is in property development, where she said the application process needs strengthening.
“If there’s a neighbourhood plan, you stick with the neighbourhood plan…” she said.
“The developer is going to look at it from their interests, and their community is going to look at it from their interests, and it’s about balancing all those interests and coming out with something that everyone can live with.”
Adapting to changes in the electorate is crucial in representing an area, which is something Ms Grace recognises.
“Your values never change and wanting the best for your electorate never changes… but the needs change… you need a new school, you need more social and affordable housing, for example.”
“There’s a lot of growth in the area, and my seat has changed. It’s shrunk in size as an electorate that I represent, because of the population and density growth.
“Growth is the biggest challenge in this area with traffic and the amount of apartments now.
“It is getting very expensive to live in this electorate… so the challenges are in connecting, which is why the 50 cent fares were so fantastic.
“I think I’ve probably seen it all in the time since I was first elected in ’07, but I’m very lucky, I have a very good electorate that covers right from some of the most expensive real estate, to those people who really do need government services and it’s great to be able to deliver for all of them.”
Some of the achievements from the last term she is most proud of are: finding a permanent home for Brisbane Youth Service, working on the Ivory Street social housing project, the establishment of Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, new buildings and air-conditioning at other local schools, laying the groundwork for a new cancer hospital at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, and the design of the Cross River Rail.
Now in opposition, she plans to hold the LNP government to account: “Talk is cheap, and you have got to actually deliver… and I need to make sure that the McConnel electorate is not forgotten.”
“Before the election, both the state and council leaders said they did not support a new (Olympic) stadium; post-election, both of them are advocating a new stadium.
“Where, of all places? Our beautiful, unique green space of Victoria Park. It’s broken election promises by both of them.”
Ms Grace said the park is unsuitable due to its hilly topography and location next to a major hospital, next to major roads, and away from public transport.
“This is not a site for development, this is much needed green space in the heart of my electorate,” she said.
Ms Grace is protective of the electorate’s unique assets, including the heritage cliff faces at Howard Smith Wharves, where a recent development application has proposed to make changes to the site.
“What they have done there is great, but some of the proposal is starting to go overboard… those cliffs should never ever be hidden,”
“I will stand with the residents.”
Her goals for 2025 are to ensure the government delivers on housing, cost of living relief, health plans and that the Cross River Rail is delivered as soon as possible.
