Deputy Premier Steven Miles applauds Jackie Trad for standing down

New Deputy Premier Steven Miles says an “understandably upset” Jackie Trad did the right thing in standing down.

DEPUTY Premier Steven Miles says if Jackie Trad wins her South Brisbane seat at the October poll, he’s sure she will have a “long and substantial” contribution to make in parliament.

The new deputy wouldn’t be drawn on whether he believed Ms Trad’s resignation from Cabinet would make it easier for the Government to secure regional seats, after an ALP party elder claimed the future looked brighter in the regions.

“I’m not going to get into that, I am confident though that the team that we now have in place will work together very well and will ensure that right across the state we have a focus on what is the challenge for every government in the world right now - the health response to COVID-19 and the economic response to COVID-19,” he said.

Jackie Trad and Steven Miles together. Picture: Bruce Long

ALP stalwart Robert Schwarten told The Courier-Mail yesterday that the future looked brighter in regional Queensland for the party after Ms Trad resigned from the ministry.

Mr Miles said he had spoken to Ms Trad, who he said was understandably upset.

“However as I said to you, she has done the right thing to avoid further distraction to the Government and the party,” he said.

The new deputy said himself, the Premier, Treasurer Cameron Dick and State Development Minister Kate Jones would work well together.

“We will lead the government well,” he said.

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“That’s very clearly what the Premier was seeking to do by moving so swiftly on Sunday.

“I certainly think that the decisions that she has made are good ones.”

Mr Miles, who said he celebrated his new post by having a very brief glass of champagne with his staff last night before having dinner with his family, said he believed the Government had been in a good position all year.

Asked if he would be campaigning alongside Ms Trad in her seat, Mr Miles echoed what the Premier said yesterday in that he’ll be campaigning alongside every Labor candidate.

He said the new roles that were outlined yesterday were the extent of the current changes, after being asked whether someone would replace now-Minister Glenn Butcher as assistant minister for treasury.