Queensland Premier Steven Miles Expects to Be Swept out of Power

Queensland Premier Steven Miles speaks to media during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia on Jan. 29, 2024 (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has admitted it is very likely that he will be swept out of power at the next election in October 2024.

The admission comes just a week after the parliament passed legislation committing Queensland to achieving 75 percent renewable energy by 2035.

The Labor leader, who took over the top job from Annastacia Palaszczuk in December 2023, hails from the party’s left faction.

In response to questioning about a YouGov poll showing Labor trailing 44 to 56 against the Liberal National Party (LNP) in the polls, Mr. Miles conceded it is “likely, very likely” he will lose the top job.

“The most likely outcome in October is that David Crisafulli will be the new premier,” he said as cited by the Courier Mail.

Despite the polling coming soon after the mammoth emissions reduction target was signed into law, Mr. Miles said the Opposition leader will need to show how he will be meeting emission targets.

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“David Crisafulli’s strong support for our emissions reductions target is welcome but he opposed the plan to meet that target,” Mr. Miles said.

“So he needs to outline to Queenslanders what his plan is to meet the 75 percent reduction target emissions reduction target that he supported, that he has personally signed the LNP up to.”

Private Jet Criticism and Climate Emissions Legislation

The Queensland Premier has come under fire recently for hailing two private jets to travel to the same destination with his Police Minister Mark Ryan and staff. The jets cost about $6,500 (US$4,240) per hour.

This occurred amidst the Miles Labor government’s passing of significant climate legislation, including a 75 percent cut to emissions by 2035 in mid-April.

During a parliamentary debate on Labor’s Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024, Mr. Crisafulli left it to his shadow ministers to speak on Labor’s emission reduction targets.

While the Liberal National Party supported the 75 percent emissions reduction target, they opposed legislating the method of getting there.

Shadow Energy Minister Deb Frecklington said Labor’s plan poses a threat to the energy bills of Queenslanders during a speech on the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 in parliament on April 17 (pdf).

“The Liberal National Party supports the targets, but we cannot support to legislate them when there is no credible pathway to achieve them,” Ms. Frecklington said.

“The bill neglects to consider the extraordinary costs of the infrastructure proposed and its impact on taxpayers.”

Hailing the passage of the legislation, Mr. Miles said, ‘“Our vision for Queenslanders is to produce cheap, clean, reliable, renewable energy for them, their families and their businesses. Now, we get on with the job of delivering.”

“We will build the renewable energy generation and transmission assets needed to power big industries in Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville, and Mt Isa.”

Federal colleagues including member for Hinkler Keith Pitt however, were dismayed with the Liberal National Party’s support for a 75 percent emissions reduction target.

“I have spoken to a number of members who said they would have a hard time voting for someone who would support this policy,” Mr. Pitt said in The Australian.

“I would be surprised if there were not motions put (at the LNP state convention later this year).”