Qld election: Free lunches plan questioned after Labor shot down similar plan in 2021

Steven Miles has faced off with Karl Stefanovic over his $1.4bn “mandate” to provide free lunches for all primary school children, despite Labor previously shooting the idea down.

• Then v now: The plan Labor called ‘loopy’

Premier Steven Miles has defended his pledge to spend $1.4bn on free school lunches for every state primary school student, saying it can improve learning outcomes and address obesity.

Education leaders on Sunday said they were “appalled” by the plan, questioning the state’s priorities and casting doubt on whether the initiative is even possible.

Speaking on breakfast TV a day after he made the announcement, Mr Miles said he had been listening to Queenslanders and felt the need to make the issue his mandate.

“There’ll be busy mums cobbling together lunches for their kids and this initiative is for them. It’s for the kids who later today will get an empty lunch box out to hide the fact they don’t have their own lunch,” Mr Miles said on Monday.

“[It’s] for the teachers who are dipping into their own pockets to make sure the kids in their class to get fed because they know they’ll be better learners and better behaved.”

Mr Miles said while he has only been Premier for 10 months, this is something he feels he needs to “mandate”.

Karl Stefanovic asked the Premier if he thought Queenslanders were idiots after Labor shot down a similar Greens plan in 2021. Picture: Today

“I’ve been listening to Queenslanders … but this is something that I thought I need to mandate, an election mandate in my own right,” he said.

Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic questioned if Mr Miles thought Queenslanders were idiots, referring to how senior ministers Grace Grace and now-education Minister Di Farmer in 2021 rubbished an almost identical Greens proposal, saying it was unnecessary and would not address root causes of hunger and socio-economic inequality.

“Premier, because at the time Labor called it virtue signalling,” Mr Stefanovic said.

“Labor said children in need are already being taken care of with free food programs. Now Labor says suddenly it’s the golden ticket.

“I mean, do you think Queenslanders are idiots.”

Premier Steven Miles makes a sandwich with his daughter Bridie, 10, on stage as part of the launch. Picture: Adam Head

Mr Miles said Queenslanders will look at the plan for what it is to help busy mums and defended the cost of the free lunch box initiative.

“All our cost-of-living measures have actually driven down inflation,” he said.

Stefanvoic then questioned the Premier over crime, with Mr Miles saying the current community safety plans are working.

“I know how important it is that people feel safe and are safe. That’s why we have that plan,” he said.