YouGov poll: Historic number of voters raise fears about state’s direction

This graph exposes the dire truth about what Queenslanders think about their state right now - and it’s worse than when borders were closed due to Covid.

Voters believe Queensland is heading in the wrong direction under a Miles government.

Satisfaction with the direction of Queensland has plunged to the lowest level in a decade with more than half of voters raising fears about its future under a Labor government.

A YouGov poll conducted exclusively for The Courier-Mail reveals 53 per cent of Queenslanders believe the state is heading in the wrong direction – the worst result for any government since May 2011.

Just 25 per cent of people believe the third-term government led by Premier Steven Miles is taking Queensland in the right direction.

With 22 per cent of people uncommitted, the government’s net satisfaction is at -28.

It is the worst net satisfaction result on record, with the previous low of -15 set by Anna Bligh in May 2011.

The poll of 1092 Queenslanders between April 9 and 17 reveals the number of voters who believe the state is heading in the wrong direction is six points higher than October, during the final months of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s leadership.

It is a massive blow to Mr Miles six months out from the state election where Labor will ask voters for a fourth term.

The 53 per cent of Queenslanders now arguing the state is heading in the wrong direction is

double the number who thought the same thing during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when border uncertainty and frequent policy changes put the state in chaos.

Satisfaction with the direction of Queensland has plunged under Premier Steven Miles’s leadership. Picture: Dan Peled

Satisfaction with the direction of Queensland has steadily declined from 54 per cent recorded under Ms Palaszczuk’s leadership in September 2020 to just 25 per cent this month under Mr Miles.

Almost 60 per cent of Labor-aligned voters say Mr Miles is taking the state in the right direction compared to 20 per cent who say he is not.

Among LNP-aligned voters, 72 per cent say the state is going the wrong way while just 11 per cent are satisfied.

Independent and taxpayer-funded polling has frequently revealed frustration among Queenslanders with the government’s response to crime, housing and cost of living pressures.

Mr Miles has attempted to quell concerns by pledging to listen to voters and take advice from Queensland Police Service about the tools it needs to combat crime.

He has also introduced an inquiry into supermarket price gouging and called for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates in an effort to help struggling Queenslanders.

Mr Miles has faced criticism from the LNP, however, for supporting decisions made by his predecessor the opposition claims has contributed to the raft of challenges now facing the state.

The state government faces an uphill battle to convince voters it can put the state back on the right track, with YouGov polling revealing the LNP has extended its two-party lead over Labor.

Polling this month revealed the government trails the opposition on a 56-44 per cent margin.