Ipswich councillor Jacob Madsen denies bizarre branch stacking claims

A colourful Ipswich councillor who admitted to having two jobs has denied “outrageous’’ claims he installed a relative in a caravan on his property to “stack’’ a crucial Labor vote.

Councillor Jacob Madsen and the caravan on his Ipswich property.

Colourful Ipswich councillor Jacob Madsen has denied “outrageous’’ claims he hosted a relative in a caravan on his property for at least 18 months to “stack’’ a vote for delegates to Labor’s state conference.

Mr Madsen, dubbed “Two Jobs Jacob’’ by opponents after last year admitting to working as a detention centre youth worker, is a member of the Right faction.

The faction is led in the local federal electorate of Blair by veteran MP Shayne Neumann.

Mr Neumann was understood to be trying to clinch all nine Blair delegates at a vote next month, ahead of the state conference in November.

A statewide Labor factional deal has meant the competing Left and Right factions were slugging it out for delegates only in two seats, Blair and Groom.

About 300 party members were eligible to vote in Blair, with insiders saying that the vote could be very tight.

Mr Madsen at an Ipswich City Council meeting in 2020. Picture: Cordell Richardson

Mr Madsen was known to be close to Mr Neumann, who is not accused of any knowledge of the living arrangements.

Under Ipswich City Council regulations, people cannot live permanently in structures such as caravans unless a temporary home permit is issued.

The permits are typically granted for up to 12 months, with a potential six-month extension, and only in exceptional circumstances such as while building a primary dwelling or when providing care for a terminally ill relative.

Mr Madsen said he could not recall how long his relative had been living on the property.

Nearmap aerial photos, which were updated every three months, plus Apple Maps and Google Maps streetview images, showed a caravan, annex, tables and other equipment have been at the property since at least February last year. They were still there last week.

The aerial photos do not show if the caravan was occupied at the time, but it was moved multiple times.

Apple Maps photo of a caravan on Councillor Madsen's property last year.

When asked how long his relative had been at the property, Mr Madsen said: “I honestly have to think about it, I would have to figure that out.’’

“I have nothing to do with the upcoming ballot. I’m a member of the Right but I’m not (running as) a delegate and I’ve nothing to do with the ballot,’’ he said.

“I’m a branch member and got an email (last week) saying who was running but I’m fairly disinterested in it.

“There are people who would do a good job.’’

Mr Madsen, when asked why some party members suggested his living arrangements looked to them like branch stacking, replied: “People in general can be very hurtful and grubby, but family is quite important to me.’’

Federal MP for Blair, Shayne Neumann. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

It is understood Mr Madsen’s relative is a member of Labor’s Ripley Valley branch and is registered on the electoral roll at the address.

Mr Madsen is something of a prodigy.

In 2005 he was a contestant on Network Ten quiz show Australia’s Brainiest Kid and three years ago he was appointed Ipswich’s youngest deputy mayor, aged just 29.

He was first elected to Division 1 aged 27 and last year was re-elected to the two-person division.

Opponents dubbed him “Two Jobs Jacob’’ after he admitted last year to working as a youth worker at a detention centre, after hours and on weekends.

“I currently perform a youth worker role in the youth justice system and it’s a role that fits around my duties as a councillor,” he told local media outlet Ipswich Today in 2024.