New Premier Steven Miles confident he can steer Labor towards fourth term

Queensland’s new Premier Steven Miles knows he has a steep hill to climb to keep Labor in power for a fourth term, but the self-confessed “suburban Dad” is confident he can do it - even it it means no more Sundays with his family.

New Queensland Premier Steven Miles claims he faces a battle “taller than Everest” convincing voters to give Labor a fourth term – but insists he can wrestle the party towards victory come October.

The comments were a thinly-veiled nod to his predecessor Annastacia Palaszczuk’s declaration that she “climbed Mt Everest” when she narrowly won the first election in 2015, clawing her way back from opposition with seven MPs.

In his first interview since taking the top job, Mr Miles and wife Kim McDowell revealed to The Sunday Mail how their lives would change as he attempts to battle the LNP’s 52-48 per cent two-party preferred lead.

A self-described “suburban dad” of three children, Mr Miles was elected to Murrumba that 2015 landslide.

Premier Steven Miles at home with his family including wife Kim and kids Sam, Aidan and Bridie. Picture: Adam Head

It was during the 2015 campaign that Ms Palaszczuk first evoked the Everest reference, saying beating Campbell Newman would be like climbing the great mountain.

When Mr Miles is asked to characterise his own chances at the next election, he replies: “What’s taller than Mount Everest?”

Mr Miles acknowledges that the opinion polls have Labor “a long way behind” and the party’s primary vote had been trending downwards under Ms Palaszczuk.

“A fourth term is a very hard thing to do,” he said.

But Mr Miles insists hope is not lost and says he will convince Queenslanders to stick with Labor if the government gets the basics right.

“We’ve got an opponent who thinks he’s already won,” Mr Miles said of LNP leader David Crisafulli.

“I think there’s a chance that if we can show Queenslanders we can keep doing the work we’ve done in the (past) nine years they’ll give us a chance.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles makes his first speech speak after being sworn in on Friday. Picture: David Clark

Over the next 10 months he is tipped to set a fast, campaign-like pace. It is something he acknowledges will put increased pressure on his personal life.

“You want people with families in these jobs so you’ve got to find ways to make it work,” he said.

“We will just make whatever our new normal is, as best we can.” Mr Miles’ three children, Sam, Aidan and Bridie, will see less of their dad, though he’s promised to attend as many sporting matches as possible.

Instead, home life will be left to his rock, Ms McDowell – who bristles at the thought of being Queensland’s first lady.

She was in the front row on Friday as Governor Jeannette Young read the proclamation appointing Mr Miles as the state’s new Premier. An hour later she was on level 41 at 1 William St, watching as her husband was surrounded by wellwishers snapping photos and offering their thoughts.

Ms McDowell knows the step from deputy to premier will transform their lives.

“I had this crazy idea that he couldn’t really work too much harder than he already did … I thought it’d be bad but it wouldn’t be too bad … the last few days shifted that,” she said.

“It’s gonna be less time, obviously. You’re harder to get to now, you don’t just reply to my texts,” she says to Mr Miles.

Premier Steven Miles at home with his family including wife Kim and kids Sam, Aidan and Bridie. Piture:s Adam Head

The past week has moved quickly for the family.

“I had a few days to show people how I would be and then my colleagues chose me and then I was able to set out an agenda for the state,” he said. “I wanted to really tell Queenslanders what my priorities for them would be and to lay out some immediate actions that I think speak to those priorities.

“We can’t fix everything but we can signal to them that we get it and we’re working on things they’re concerned about.”

For Ms McDowell the “very regular Sunday morning” was soon up-ended as she realised she would be cooking family breakfast that morning and for the foreseeable future.

Mr Miles strokes Ms McDowell’s shoulder as she reveals what Queensland should know about her husband.

“I do see someone that is not out there for himself and it’s never really been about that for you in politics,” she says.

“What’s driving you is making positive change in Queensland.”

Voters will have 10 months to cast their verdict on that.