Albo hits Qld election campaign trail to support ‘his friend’ Steven Miles

There were no funding or election announcements and the Prime Minister refused to commit to Olympics infrastructure funding, but Anthony Albanese and Steven Miles were all smiles on the Gold Coast.

Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the Gold Coast. Pic: Adam Head

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon with “his friend” Premier Steven Miles to promote the light rail.

The pair took a light rail trip to Parkwood, however no new funding or election announcements were made.

Mr Albanese instead spruiked the cooperative relationship between the federal and state Labor governments, saying Mr Miles is deserving of re-election, despite previously stating government’s did not get better in their fourth term.

“I’m very proud to support Steven Miles’ campaign,” he said.

“He’s someone who’s dynamic, he’s someone who leads a fantastic team as well.

“What they’ve (Labor) managed to do is to regenerate.

Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking to Gold Coast primary school student. Pic: Adam Head

“This is a new Premier, a new Deputy Premier, you have people like Shannon Fentiman, who wasn’t in Parliament at the same time that Steven was.”

Despite holding the press conference outside of a light rail station, the Prime Minister refused to commit to helping the state government build the tramline out to the Gold Coast Airport in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The extension is expected to cost at least $4.4bn, with an upper estimate of $7.6bn, but there are fears it will not be completed in time to service hoards of international visitors expected to descend on the coast.

Asked whether $7.6 billion would be too much to pay, Mr Albanese again said he would wait and see the results of the business case.

“We’ll wait and see what they are. With respect, that’s why you do a business case,” he said.

“What my government does is receive the business cases, make proper assessments, before we fund infrastructure.”

The Premier yesterday revealed he is planning to hold a plebiscite on nuclear energy policy in Queensland if he is re-elected.

Light rail passengers were surprised to see the duo riding the tram on Monday afternoon. Pic: Adam Head

It would mean Queenslanders would be sent to the polls to vote on whether they accept Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan to convert two coal fired power stations into nuclear reactors by 2037.

Mr Albanese, asked whether he would support the plebiscite, said it was “a matter for Queensland”.

Mr Miles said he was yet to discuss the plebiscite with Mr Albanese, including a potential date, should he be elected on October 26.

“We haven’t had a chance to discuss that yet, but it would only occur if Peter Dutton were elected, and I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said.

“The law bans nuclear in Queensland, but also requires the Minister to hold a plebiscite as soon as they reasonably believe that the Australian Government intends to build a nuclear reactor.

Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G-Link station at Parkwood. Pic: Adam Head

“That’s what the law says, I’ve said I will comply with that law, David Crisafulli has said he does too, but I wonder whether he actually intends to hold that plebiscite.”

Mr Crisafulli has ruled out nuclear energy in Queensland if he is elected premier, however he has continuously danced around journalist’s questions of whether he would stand up against Mr Dutton’s plans if he is elected Prime Minister in 2025.