Steven Miles’ sledging of Premier as ‘lazy’ is laughable and wrong

Queenslanders have made it clear they want a premier who gets on with the job, not one who flexes his “guns” or makes TikTok videos making sandwiches, writes associate editor Kylie Lang.

Premier David Crisafulli and Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek at a news conference, Gumdale State School, – on April 22nd 2025 – Photo Steve Pohlner

Queenslanders made it clear last October that we don’t want a premier who holds daily press conferences to ramble on about nothing much in particular.

We want a premier who gets on with the job of governing a diverse and challenging state, with no need to flex “guns” while taking out the wheelie bin or post TikTok videos of making sandwiches.

Substance is the least we deserve.

So for the ousted Steven Miles, now in opposition, to sledge his replacement David Crisafulli as the laziest premier ever is laughable – and wrong.

Then-Premier Steven Miles making lunch boxes for his kids.

Steven Miles gets his guns out on Facebook.

The Opposition Leader this week was scraping the barrel when he said: “I don’t remember a premier ever appearing so rarely, and so rarely on weekdays too.”

Well, I am sure we all remember another premier appearing all too regularly, and on so many red carpets she might have forgotten what solid ground felt like underfoot.

Not even Steven Miles can actually believe David Crisafulli has worked less hard in these last few months than Annastacia Palaszczuk did in her last few years.

In fact, it is widely known in and outside of LNP circles, that Mr Crisafulli is a doer.

Has he been perfect since becoming Premier? Of course not. He’s human.

But he has been a standout leader who hit the ground running.

The election promise of tougher youth crime laws – tick.

The finalisation, after years of Labor stuffing around, of the 2032 Games’ venues blueprint – tick.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli speaking at Barlow Park in Cairns. Photo: Supplied by the Office of the Premier.

A calm and steady hand and clear communication during ex-tropical cyclone Alfred – tick.

Mr Miles must be suffering Relevance Deprivation Syndrome to accuse Mr Crisafulli of being slack.

And the timing, on the Easter long weekend, could not have been more discordant.

Mr Miles seems to think the man who took his job should be in front of the cameras every day, including weekends, even long ones.

I do wonder what Mr Crisafulli was meant to be telling Queenslanders when Mr Miles launched his idiotic assault.

That the Easter bunny had been? Don’t forget to clean your teeth after eating all that chocolate?

Or, heaven forbid, that the Easter bunny had been kidnapped by aliens and a state of emergency had been declared?

It was a relatively quiet weekend and Mr Crisafulli, like anyone else, is entitled to some time off.

Then-Premier Steven Miles, doing the push up challenge with Mick de Brenni, after speaking to people at a lunch and presser, XXXX Milton on Thursday 6th June 2024. Photo: Steve Pohlner

It has quickly been established that when Premier Crisafulli calls a press conference, it is not because he wants to hear his own voice or see his mug on the TV but because he has something important to say.

Even Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese realises Mr Crisafulli is getting plenty right, and has leaned into him during the federal election campaign.

Mr Miles would be wise to look and learn.

As The Courier-Mail reported last month, research shows David Crisafulli is Australia’s most popular politician.

According to Redbridge polling, his net favourability among voters is streets ahead of premiers in Western Australia, South Australia, NSW and Victoria.

This has given the LNP an uplift across inner and outer metropolitan seats which were stronger for Labor at the October 26 election.

Redbridge director Tony Barry said the poll results would be tough for Labor to swallow.

“If the Queensland Labor caucus are smart, they’ll pension off Steven Miles and give Cameron Dick a run because at the moment the former premier is dragging down their vote,” Mr Barry said.

Premier David Crisafulli talking at a press conference at The Grove estate at Logan. Picture: Lachie Millard

“Queensland voters want the remedy, not the replay.”

When Mr Crisafulli was informed of his apparent popularity by this newspaper, he simply said: “We’re doing what we said we’re going to do and my style is to make sure that you negotiate with people forcefully, but respectfully.

“I contrast that with the style that I’ve seen before, where if it’s someone on your team you’re a patsy and if it’s someone on another team you’re some kind of crusader.

“You’re better off treating people with respect, not giving them an inch … that’s the model we’ve used.”

It’s working, and Steven Miles needs to come up with something infinitely smarter than accusing the Premier of being lazy.

Kylie Lang is Associate Editor of The Courier-Mail

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