Miles defends Premier’s European jaunt amid crime ‘crisis’

Steven Miles is defending Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to holiday in Europe as speculation runs rampant about her leadership. VOTE IN OUR POLL

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Steven Miles is defending Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to fly to Europe amid concerns the government is failing to deal with youth crime and speculation runs rampant about her leadership – declaring he’ll have “fun” doing her job for two weeks.

For the second time this year Ms Palaszczuk is holidaying in Europe, the latest break days after “chaos” in parliament when the government rushed through controversial youth justice laws and Ms Palaszczuk declined to address a victims of crime rally – instead meeting them in private.

Ministers are now privately raising concerns about the government’s strategy and its ability to effectively govern, while some MPs are reportedly critical of Ms Palaszczuk for again flying to Europe – with her office again declining to reveal where.

Mr Miles, Queensland’s acting premier until September 11, defended Ms Palaszczuk for leaving after a difficult week.

“Holidays get planned and you go ahead with those plans regardless of what might have happened in the week of parliament,” he said.

“I don’t think a lot of people take too much notice of that. Annastacia works hard, she’s entitled to have a holiday.”

Acting Premier Stephen Miles on Sunday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to jet overseas comes amid speculation over her future as party leader, with key sections of Labor privately raising concerns about its prospects at the October 2024 state election.

Mr Miles, the most senior left-faction MP and person most likely to replace Ms Palaszczuk, on Sunday repeatedly denied her leadership was under threat.

“I understand there’ll always be chatter, there will always be rumours and gossip,” he said.

“What I know is a great strength of our government has been our stability and unity and the leadership that Annastacia has provided and I intend to continue that unity and stability.”

Three independent polls and internal Labor research reveals the party’s vote has dived since the 2020 election, with Ms Palaszczuk’s personal popularity also taking a significant hit.

However, Mr Miles insisted the concerning poll result was “not unusual”.

“People have written us off since 2015, even since 2012 people have been saying that we couldn’t win the next election and under Annastacia’s leadership we’ve gone on to win each of those elections.

“We’re used to being the underdog, we’re used to going into elections as the underdogs but with Annastacia’s leadership and with a united and stable team we’ve gone on to win those elections and we’ll do that again.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and partner Dr Reza Adib

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie accused Ms Palaszczuk of being “out of touch” for again travelling overseas.

“Queenslanders woke up yesterday morning to see their Premier now jetsetting again to Europe,” he said.

“When Emma Lovell was tragically killed on Boxing Day only a matter of weeks later the Premier jetsetted off to France to drink Chandon in Paris … now the Premier is pouring prosecco in Italy today.

“We have a Premier so out of touch she’s taken a second European holiday in a matter of months … she has checked out.”

Mr Miles declined to say whether he would contend a ballot for the leadership, declaring it “just hypothetical.”

Labor Party rules introduced following the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard leadership sagas makes it difficult for the party to change leaders, with a challenger needing to emerge victorious from three separate votes – the parliamentary caucus, rank-and-file members and unions.

“I think it’s appropriate that is a difficult task, but that’s also a foundation that has allowed us to deliver that kind of unity and stability that has served our government and served our state very, very well,” Mr Miles said.