Opinion: The reason unions have so much say in Qld Labor

While Steven Miles’s accession might look like a shady backroom deal, it’s actually a democratic process, writes Paul Williams.

History turns so slowly in Queensland we tend to measure our governments in decades, not years.

Where New South Wales has seen 10 premiers in 20 years, Queensland until last Sunday had seen just four. And now, with Dr Steven Miles assuming the top job, voters will have numerous questions.

First, does the role trade union chiefs played in Miles’s elevation mean the Labor Party is undemocratic?

No. Labor is and always has been a workers’ party based on trade unions. While it might be curious to see union leaders – not elected by the general public – enjoying enormous influence over who becomes premier, those union leaders were themselves elected by their members.

Moreover, the Left faction, which Miles leads and today controls state conference and many MPs’ preselections, was democratically elected to a majority position by branch members.

So, while Miles’s accession might look like a shady backroom deal, it’s instead a reflection of the majority view held today inside Queensland Labor.

While factions are not formalised in the LNP, the Opposition does boast groupings more loyal to one individual or idea than others.

Federally, Liberal and Nationals leaders have been elected under far murkier processes. Just ask Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull about their removal at the hands of Machiavellian Liberal cliques.

But none of that excuses the chunkiness of Labor’s leadership succession rules.

With just 8 per cent of Queensland’s private sector workers boasting union membership, it’s hardly fair to give unions a third of the say – with MPs and grassroots members each enjoying a third – when replacing a Labor leader.

Party leadership is a gift of elected MPs. Labor should ditch its 2015 rule change so that flailing leaders can be dispatched more cleanly in the future.

Second, will a Miles government be a jump to the left?

Almost certainly not. While Miles is from the Left, he’s a pragmatic bloke who knows voters’ priorities. That’s why he’s already promised a freeze on car registration – we can expect more cost-of-living goodies in the next state budget – and a rethink of the Gabba upgrade debacle.

Also expect Miles to come out swinging on youth crime (remember his dig at the courts for the granting of bail to repeat offenders?) hospital ramping and social housing. Miles knows he has just one shot in his locker to prove his mettle. He will throw everything at Labor’s last chance at re-election.

Steven Miles takes over as premier from Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday.

Third, isn’t the LNP elated by the elevation of a bloke many believe to be unelectable?

Superficially, yes, but deeper down, no. While Miles was widely pilloried on becoming deputy premier in 2020 – for giggling, for an unsavoury description of prime minister Scott Morrison, and for being Annastacia Palaszczuk’s attack dog – he also garnered kudos as acting premier during Palaszczuk’s many absences.

Quite apart from the Opposition’s annoyance at having to rewrite an entire campaign strategy previously aimed at Palaszczuk, the Opposition – in labelling the PhD-qualified Miles a clown – risks underestimating Miles in the same way Campbell Newman brushed off Palaszczuk after 2012.

Fourth, can a last-minute leader really breathe life into a tired government?

Of course. John Major saved the Conservatives’ bacon in the United Kingdom after Maggie Thatcher’s resignation, just as Gladys Berejiklian and Scott Morrison rebooted the NSW and federal Liberals respectively.

It’s clear, however, that Queensland Labor – seeking a fourth term during a cost-of-living crisis – is a genuine underdog, and the next Queensland election is the LNP’s to lose.

Last, how will Queenslanders remember Annastacia Palaszczuk?

Unlike the dewy-eyed reminiscences Australians have of goofy sports stars, Aussies rarely think about past political leaders, no matter how good they were. Former premier Anna Bligh performed marvellously during the 2010-11 floods, but who remembers now?

Even so, many will remember Palaszczuk for her pandemic management – who knows how many Queenslanders are alive today because of her hard border closure? – and landmark abortion, euthanasia and domestic violence reform.

Her government will also be remembered for a massive infrastructure “catch up” – especially in the regions, where 67 per cent of that budget was spent – and for major investments in clean energy.

Sadly, it will also be remembered for integrity problems that could so easily have been avoided.

The Palaszczuk government over nine years has been a good transactional one that got things done. But it was not a greatly transformative one in the vein of T.J. Ryan, Wayne Goss or Peter Beattie’s.

Can Miles and, potentially later, David Crisafulli transform Queensland? We’ll find out soon enough.

Paul Williams is an associate professor at Griffith University