How this 50c fare policy reshapes the election

Good policy is good politics – and for struggling Premier Steven Miles this one is a masterstroke, writes political editor Hayden Johnson.

Premier Steven Miles is slashing the cost of Qld’s public transport fees. Picture: Annette Dew

Good policy is good politics – and for struggling Premier Steven Miles this one is a masterstroke.

For six months his government has nibbled at the edge of the cost-of-living crisis through politically-driven energy rebate handouts and ineffective transport and car registration freezes.

This announcement by Mr Miles and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick – one of the government’s best communicators – will have a tangible effect on household budgets and get more commuters to consider swapping the car for public transport.

More importantly for the government, it could pay a significant electoral dividend five months out from a state poll Labor is widely expected to lose.

Politically, slashing public transport fares appeals to both Green-leaning voters in the inner city and dozens across Queensland facing an LNP attack.

You can bet there will be a multimillion-dollar government advertising campaign to promote this 50c fare trial, which ministers will deceitfully claim has nothing to do with politics.

April’s YouGov polling for The Courier-Mail showed the LNP leading Labor 56 to 44 across Queensland.

This fare cut is a start, but Mr Miles will need a few more hail Mary policies if he’s to claw that back and buy a ticket to the final four weeks of the election campaign.

Enshrining 50c fares for just six months also creates a bomb for Opposition Leader David Crisafulli if Mr Miles is unable to pull the rabbit and loses the premiership.

Expect Mr Dick to soon demand Mr Crisafulli quickly explain whether they’d continue under an LNP government.

It’s straight from the playbook of Scott Morrison, who on the eve of the 2022 federal election planted a six-month fuel excise tax cut for Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who was forced to reinstate it and add 22c per litre.

Good politics is the only saviour for Mr Miles, but has he left it to late?