Shannon Fentiman declares she’s running for Premier

Shannon Fentiman has announced her tilt to become Premier, using words that mark a significant turning point in the battle to become Labor’s leader.

• Opinion: Fentiman’s compassion a contrast to Palaszczuk

Shannon Fentiman has declared it is time for “renewal”, promising a more transparent government as she announced her tilt to become Premier.

Her move marks a significant turning point in the battle to become Labor’s leader as it is a direct challenge to Deputy Premier Steven Miles and his standing as the successor anointed by Annastacia Palaszczuk when she resigned on Sunday.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announcing her run for Premier on Monday. Picture: David Clark

Ms Fentiman confirmed she had texted the outgoing Premier but was yet to receive a response, in a telling sign of a dearth of support from Ms Palaszczuk.

Ms Fentiman and Mr Miles are expected to meet separately with the minority Right faction on Monday to hash out terms of negotiation for the support of the 18 Right-aligned MPs.

Treasurer Cameron Dick is yet to officially declare his intention to run for the leadership, but Ms Fentiman confirmed the pair had been in discussions.

She did not explicitly state the pair would be on a ticket together.

Ms Fentiman said Steven Miles had not offered her the position of deputy premier, though this has been refuted by Miles’ supporters.

Ms Fentiman was confident of her position and said she “wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have significant support”.

“I am here because I believe I am the best person to take us to the next election,” she said.

“I think we all want to see a new leader as quickly as possible. I think that’s in the best interests of the party and the government going forward.”

Her pitch included putting housing and cost of living front and centre, and more transparency around the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

She also promised to “deliver for regional Queensland”.

Ms Fentiman, unlike Mr Miles, has been able to distance herself from the government’s at times controversial handling of the 2032 Games infrastructure program.

Ms Fentiman paid tribute to Annastacia Palaszczuk’s legacy but said more needed to be done

“Clearly we need to do more and now is the time for renewal and that means we may have to do some things differently,” she said.

“And I believe I am best place to lead that change and so will be nominating to be the next Premier of this great state.”

Ms Fentiman’s declaration to run comes as a poll run by The Courier-Mail asking readers who should be the state’s next leader out of Steven Miles and Ms Fentiman showed 68 per cent preferred Ms Fentiman. More than 4600 readers had voted in the poll.

Ms Fentiman highlighted housing and more transparency in the running of the Olympics as major priorities of her leadership.

“We have to listen to Queenslanders in our suburbs, and our regional communities to make sure that no one falls behind,” she said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles earlier declared his hand, confirming he would nominate to be Labor leader and Premier when caucus meets on Friday.

Mr Miles, in his first public pitch to be leader, had also said there was “much left to do” after nine years of government.

He mentioned cost of living, housing, infrastructure for growing communities, the energy and jobs plan and refocusing the health system.

“The Palaszczuk Government has delivered a lot. A Labor government that I lead will build on that legacy and refocus the state on the services Queenslanders rely upon,” he said.

Assistant Health Minister and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga had on Sunday thrown her support behind Ms Fentiman.

Ms Lauga is a member of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union just like Ms Fentiman. It’s understood the heavy-hitting United Workers’ Union has told its section of caucus to back in Mr Miles.