What Steven Miles must do to survive as Premier

Steven Miles has 319 days to convince us he’s his own man, writes Hayden Johnson.

Queensland’s 40th Premier Steven Miles – the man who stood alongside Annastacia Palaszczuk for three years – has 319 days to convince us he’s his own man.

Unshackled by the tired and lumbering Palaszczuk government, Mr Miles’ must match the cracking campaign pace already being set by LNP Leader David Crisafulli and prove to Queenslanders while he’s been gifted the top job – it’s one he desperately wants.

Steven Miles arrives to front the media this week. Picture: Getty Images

By the end of Ms Palaszczuk’s reign there was a sense she enjoyed the role, not the job.

Through hard work and measured reforms, Mr Miles can reverse Labor’s electoral fortunes.

Shedding the ‘giggles’ and ‘attack dog’ image cultivated during Covid-19 is tough, but not impossible.

Mr Miles must develop a new brand of ‘can do’ leadership – build infrastructure, fix youth crime, unlock housing and lead a transparent government.

He’s rightly expected to boot trouble-prone Transport Minister Mark Bailey – whose “arrogance” became immeasurable due to the blind loyalty shown by Annastacia Palaszczuk – from cabinet.

Removing Mr Bailey and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe are the most likely moves – and Mr Miles would do well to elevate capable assistant ministers Charis Mullen, Bart Mellish, Nikki Boyd and Michael Healy into cabinet.

Grace Grace’s newfound power as an Old Guard kingmaker was on display on Tuesday when she joined the leadership duo of Mr Miles and Treasurer Cameron Dick for a press conference.

Also in attendance was young female minister Meaghan Scanlon - perhaps a pointed reminder to Shannon Fentiman about the role she might have played if she offered him support.

Queensland’s 40th Premier faces a herculean task dragging Labor back from the brink to a competitive position in the October election.

Steven Miles during the infamous Labour Day speech when some say he mistakenly called Scott Morrison a “c**t”. Picture: Liam Kidston.

To fail would make him the shortest serving Premier since Russell Cooper’s 73-day stint 35 years ago.

So far the signs are good.

Mr Miles is expected to provide steady leadership with minor policy changes – such as a welcome rego freeze – and renewed empowerment of the public service.

He’s also being given some air, with the LNP unable to fully capitalised on Labor’s leadership drama this week.

Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie has rightly pointed out it was a “cunning, calculated Christmas coup” against Ms Palaszczuk, but the party hasn’t delivered the knockout blow Tony Abbott was able to when he prosecuted the “faceless men” during the Rudd-Gillard era of chaos.

With the top job secure Mr Miles must provide the engaging leadership he demonstrated as Acting Premier during Ms Palaszczuk’s absence.

With a more energy and measured policy changes, he could be here for the long haul.