Queensland state election 2024: Steven Miles ahead with young voters

More than half of Queensland’s young voters have rallied behind Steven Miles as their preferred premier, saying his prolific social media use and cost of living measures have helped win them over.

More than half of Queensland’s young voters have rallied behind Steven Miles as their preferred premier, saying his prolific social media use and cost of living measures have helped win them over.

New YouGov polling shows 53 per cent of Queensland voters aged 18-34 prefer the Labor leader, well ahead of 21 per cent who chose the LNP’s David Crisafulli.

When Courier-Mail approached young voters, almost all could name Mr Miles when shown his photo, with many describing him as “the 50 cent fares guy” and “the guy from TikTok”.

Almost none could identify Mr Crisafulli when shown his picture.

The majority of young voters who knew Mr Miles from his social media agreed his online presence would sway them to vote for him.

Younger Brisbane voters (from left) Maggie Ekert, Caden Griffiths, Pat Murray, Jessica Johnson and Corey Heaton. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The biggest concern identified by young voters was the cost of living crisis.

But even those voters who named youth crime as their first priority said they planned to vote Labor, despite the LNPs tough stance and promises on the issue.

First-time state election voter Mila Jimenez, 19, said she would be voting for Steven Miles after seeing him on Tik Tok.

“I’m voting for him because I actually know who he is from the 50 cent fares, for example, which he made really clear on his social media like TikTok and Instagram,” she said.

“Also, cost of living, is the most important thing for me because I know that it’s just going to get worse and worse and even though I’m just 19 right now, when I get to 25 it’s going to probably be really bad and I want to be able to buy a house someday.”

Jessica Johnson, 18, said she had mostly seen Steven Miles on TikTok which made him more “relatable” and said it had the potential to sway her vote.

“Just seeing him be more real and getting to see a side of these politicians that’s a bit more relatable when they’re like walking through the streets we walk through - I guess that does help,” she said.

Hannah Deshon, 18, lives with her parents and grandparents in one house due to cost of living and said she felt “mega ripped off”.

“I probably agree with what more of the Greens are saying on a political spectrum, but I’m more likely to vote with Labor I think, because they’re more likely to make some actual change, and if I vote for them, there’s less of a chance that the other guy (David Crisafulli) will get in.”

Ms Deshon added abortion rights as another major concern.

“The idea that that can be taken away so easily and so quickly makes me terrified for what other impacts that will have on feminism and women in Australia in general,” she said.

Student and second-time state election voter Corey Heaton, 24, agreed abortion rights were “up there” alongside youth crime on his list of concerns.

“I’ve heard a few interviews from the liberal side of things specifically regarding abortion rights that are controversial to say the least and that’s definitely something that’s impacted my opinion on voting,” he said.

Young voters Mila Jimenez and Mercia Horan. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Heaton added that although youth crime was important to him, he would still be looking to vote for Steven Miles as Premier.

First-time voter Ben Worton, 18, said cost-of-living was also his major concern.

“I don’t see really a possibility in my future of owning a home at all, and that’s kind of a terrifying thought to be living with my parents for quite a while,” he said.

Griffith University Political Scientist and Chief Investigator on the Australian Election Study Dr Sarah Cameron said the LNP needed to look at regaining the votes of younger generations which were swinging more left.

“What we are seeing in Australia is evidence of generational change, both Generation Z and millennials are further to the left of older generations,” Dr Cameron said.

“Also what we are seeing with millennials, who are no longer particularly young, is that they’re not shifting to the right as they get older.”

What Queensland’s young voters think:

Sean Loughran

Age: 18

Sean Loughran.

First time voting

Biggest issue: cost of living

“House prices and just everything, is ramping up like food as well, and uni cost, that’s going to get absolutely ridiculous. I remember my mum talking about how her uni costed like 10 grand for a whole thing. It’s gonna cost me like 10 grand for a semester.”

Voting: Labor

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? Yes

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? *Knew the face but not the name

Emiko Schmeisser

Age: 20

Emiko Schmeisser.

First time voting in Qld

Biggest issue: cost of living, the environment

“There are solutions after like, the 50 cent public transport thing has been helpful so many people.”

Voting: Undecided

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? Yes

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? No

Mila Jimenez

Age: 19

Mila Jimenez.

First time voting

Biggest issue: cost of living

“I’m voting for him (Steven Miles) because I actually know who he is.”

Voting: Labor

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? Yes

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? No

Mercia Horan

Age: 19

Mercia Horan.

First time voting

Biggest issue: cost of living

“It’ll take us our whole life to pay off a home loan at this rate.”

Voting: Labor

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? Somewhat

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? No

Benjamin Worton

Age: 18

Benjamin Worton.

First time voting

Biggest issue: cost of living, climate change

“I don’t see really a possibility in my future of owning a home at all.”

Voting: Labor

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? No

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? No

Hannah Deshon

Age: 18

Hannah Deshon.

First time voting

Biggest issue: cost of living

“It feels like it’s like ‘oh yeah like you know life sucks for you but you’re just gonna have to deal with that’,”

Voting: Labor

Does Steven Miles’ social media presence sway your vote? Yes

Do you know who David Crisafulli is? Yes