Jessie Price Continues Community Campaign – Advocating for Bean Residents

Umesh Dhakal

KNA-Canberra

A Mum, midwife, and former journalist Jessie Price has built her career around connecting with people in real life, the messy, the complex, and the profound and advocating for better systems. This same drive inspired her to enter politics as a community Independent, working with the Bean community to have a real impact on the issues that matter at the federal level.

In early 2024, Jessie began meeting directly with residents across Bean, listening to their priorities, frustrations, and what they hoped politics could do better. After extensive community engagement, Voices of Bean selected and endorsed her as the community Independent candidate. Her candidacy was announced in November 2024, with the campaign officially launching in December 2024.

Jessie and her team ran a grassroots, low-cost, people-powered campaign, focused on strengthening community representation and holding the government accountable from the crossbench. The campaign emphasised key issues such as:

• Gambling awareness and reform
• Affordable and accessible housing
• Environmental protection and climate action

Through door-knocking, letterboxing, and engaging residents at local shopping centres and markets, Jessie and her volunteers built strong connections with the community and ensured their voices were heard.

Election Result and Achievement

The campaign came remarkably close. Jessie narrowly missed victory, falling short by just 0.3% (351 votes) against a major party candidate and established political figure. This transformed Bean from one of Labor’s safest seats to its most marginal seat, highlighting the community’s desire for real representation.

Jessie reflected:
“This result shows that a small, committed, and positive group of people can make a big difference. While the margin was narrow, we’ve strengthened trust, connection, and participation in our community.”

Ongoing Work and Upcoming Events

Since the election, Jessie has continued engaging directly with the community through interactive events and advocacy on key issues. Her team remains committed to building stronger representation for Bean residents ahead of the next federal election in 2028.

Jessie and her team are focusing on ongoing challenges, including:

• Rising cost-of-living pressures

• Small business challenges

• Farming and agricultural issues

• Multicultural community concerns

Residents are invited to participate in upcoming “Bean Listening” events, designed to hear their concerns, share ideas, and work together to strengthen representation:

Upcoming Bean Listening Events

• Bean Listening at Wright Shops
  Date: January 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  Location: Wright Shops, 2 Gornall St, Wright, ACT 2611
  

• Bean Listening at Tuggeranong Officeworks
  Date: January 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Location: Tuggeranong Officeworks Carpark, 215 Scollay St, Greenway, ACT 2900
  

• Bean Listening at Farmers Markets
  Date: February 15, 2026
  Location: Southside Farmers Markets, Canberra College, Phillip, ACT
  

Jessie and her team invite all members of the community to share their views, raise questions, and work together for stronger local representation.