As Federal Political Reporter for The Courier-Mail, Madura McCormack deciphers how legislation and power dynamics shape everyday life across Queensland. With a career spanning crime desks, regional politics, and federal policy, she brings a granular lens to issues like infrastructure funding, legal reforms, and electoral accountability.
“Dealing with irate politicians about stories they’d rather never see the light of day—I can do that all day every day.”
This ethos drives McCormack’s accountability journalism, making her a critical voice for Queenslanders navigating complex governance landscapes.
Madura McCormack’s journalism career began in 2012 with internships at Fairfax Media (now Nine Entertainment Co.), AFP, and News Corp Australia. Her early work at Metior Magazine as a sub-editor and later editor honed her narrative precision, but it was a pivotal shift to political reporting in 2018 that defined her trajectory. Initially covering crime for The Daily Mercury, McCormack transitioned to politics during the fiercely contested 2019 Federal Election, where she reported on marginal seats like Herbert and Dawson. This baptism by fire shaped her ability to dissect complex policy debates and electoral strategies.
By 2020, McCormack joined The Courier-Mail as a federal political reporter, focusing on Queensland’s legislative developments. Her coverage of the LNP’s 2024 election campaign, including David Crisafulli’s stage-managed public appearances, underscored her knack for uncovering the intersection of political strategy and public accountability.
This analysis of Queensland’s public transport overhaul revealed McCormack’s ability to translate bureaucratic decisions into public impact. She highlighted the $32 million funding injection for a fly-in police squad, linking infrastructure spending to regional safety—a recurring theme in her work. Her sourcing from government insiders and law enforcement officials provided a balanced critique of the policy’s long-term viability.
McCormack’s investigative piece exposed the LNP’s centralized control over candidate messaging during the 2024 state election. Through anonymous interviews with party insiders, she revealed how abortion policy became a strategic liability, forcing candidates to parrot scripted talking points. The article exemplified her focus on the tension between party discipline and grassroots representation.
In this exposé, McCormack detailed the LNP’s meticulously orchestrated campaign tactics, including private flights to avoid unscripted voter interactions. Her analysis of Crisafulli’s “empowerment” rhetoric versus centralized decision-making showcased her talent for juxtaposing political narratives with operational realities.
McCormack prioritizes stories with direct implications for Queenslanders, particularly those outside Brisbane. A successful pitch might explore how federal health funding disparities affect rural hospitals in Cairns or the economic fallout of reef tourism policies. Her coverage of the $24 billion budget black hole underlines her interest in fiscal accountability at the state level.
While McCormack frequently reports on legislation, she gravitates toward its human consequences. The parole system’s flaws, detailed in her 2023 series, were framed through interviews with affected families rather than dry legal analysis. Pitches should highlight how policies like mandatory sentencing or bail reforms alter community dynamics.
Despite her federal role, McCormack rarely engages in Canberra’s day-to-day theatrics. A pitch about Labor’s national energy policy would need a Queensland angle—for example, how solar farm approvals in regional towns intersect with traditional land rights.
Her article on antisemitism trends used localized crime statistics to challenge national narratives. Pitches incorporating regional data—school funding disparities, hospital wait times by electorate—resonate strongly, especially when paired with grassroots voices.
McCormack’s work in Mackay and Townsville revealed a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. A story about Indigenous-led disaster recovery initiatives in flood-prone areas, or migrant contributions to mining town economies, aligns with her focus on equitable representation.
While specific awards aren’t listed in available sources, McCormack’s career milestones speak to her influence:
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Politics, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
