Steven Miles downplays leadership ambitions as Annastacia Palaszczuk plunges in poll
The Premier’s falling popularity has sparked debate about possible changes - though many readers insist it would be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. HAVE YOUR SAY
QLD Politics
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Deputy Premier Steven Miles insists he has no ambition to take over the top job - and it seems many Queenslanders are happy with that.
Mr Miles brushed aside questions about his leadership prospects after polling showed Annastacia Palaszczuk’s personal polling had plummeted.
Despite standing behind his leader, Mr Miles received a resounding “no” from many couriermail.com.au readers when it came to his chances of ascending to premier.
Here is what you said about Mr Miles’ hopes:
Judy: Not having any actual policies before a resounding election victory worked pretty well for Albo, so why would Crisafulli muck around with that.
Miles has little to no chance of succeeding Anna given his own popularity is even lower than hers.
Hopefully Qlders are finally working out how abysmal this Government actually is.
Mark: At least someone is glad that Dr Steven Miles is our deputy.
Michael: If Miles were to lead Labor in the next election he would lose even more seats than Anna for Labor.
Elizabeth: No chance..It will be hard enough for Anna to get back in. Forget anyone else in the team.
Seriously: Frying pan or fire? That’s seriously our choice?
AH: God help us NO NO No to Miles!
Fred: Steven Miles would have zero chance. I’ve never seen a politician exercise poor judgement like him.
Join the conversation - have your say below or on Facebook here
‘I love being deputy’: Miles denies leadership ambitions as Palaszczuk tanks
Deputy Premier Steven Miles has brushed aside questions about his leadership ambitions and blasted the Opposition Leader for being “good at memes” but short on policies after polling showed Annastacia Palaszczuk’s personal polling had plummeted.
According to exclusive polling conducted for The Courier-Mail, Ms Palaszczuk’s standing as preferred premier has sunk to its lowest level since she ascended to the top job.
The LNP has edged in front on a two-party-preferred basis, according to the YouGov poll, with the Opposition now leading 51 to 49.
Ms Palaszczuk still leads Opposition Leader David Crisafulli as preferred premier 31 to 29 per cent, but support for the Premier has slumped eight percentage points since December.
The results were a damning indictment on the leadership within the state government, with other results from the polling also revealing voters had more faith the Opposition would better manage health.
On Wednesday, journalists cited the poll as evidence Ms Palaszczuk’s once-dominant electoral position had faded among voters, and asked Mr Miles if he believed the Premier should take the party to the next election.
Mr Miles said Ms Palaszczuk was “very much” supported as leader.
“We’ve worked together on this long term vision for our state and we want to ask Queenslanders for the opportunity to continue to implement it,” he said.
Mr Miles said the results of the polling should serve as an opportunity for reporters and the wider community to demand more from the Opposition Leader, who has often been criticised for failing to commit to policy positions.
“It is now time for more scrutiny on David Crisafulli and the LNP,” the Deputy Premier said.
“This bloke manages to get up and criticise us every single day, with very, very little scrutiny of what alternative plans he would have and what he would be like if he were elected at the next election.”
In a reference to political graphics posted on social media by Mr Crisafulli, Mr Miles said: “This bloke is good at memes, but we haven’t seen any policies.”
Pressed further about the leadership and if he had ambitions to be premier if Ms Palaszczuk stood aside, Mr Miles said it was a “very hypothetical question”.
“I love being deputy premier,” he said.
“It’s my dream job and I’d like to do it for as long as Queenslanders will have me.”
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