Steven Miles choosing to attack David Crisafulli’s past a poor start for Premier

If Steven Miles wants Queenslanders to focus on a visionary future and not the past, he kicked off his campaign in the worst possible way.

If Steven Miles wants Queenslanders to focus on a visionary future and not the past, why was his first pitch to voters a full-throated attack on David Crisafulli’s time in the Newman government?

In a sermon reminiscent of Abe Simpson yelling at clouds, Mr Miles smashed Mr Crisafulli as a small-target opponent and warned he would sack bureaucrats and wreak havoc on the state’s economy.

The premier claimed Mr Crisafulli was such a huge player in the Newman government that “it was him that cut those health workers, closed those schools and cancelled those projects”.

In truth, Mr Crisafulli was in charge of local government, community recovery and resilience nine years ago.

Premier Steven Miles kicks off the election with a visit to Government House via public bus. Picture: Adam Head

Sure, past behaviour can predict future behaviour, but Mr Crisafulli acknowledges the Newman government got it wrong and pledged no worker cuts if he is elected.

In his first short press conference the premier struggled to find a cohesive message.

He criticised Mr Crisafulli’s past while urging voters to forget Annastacia Palaszczuk and vote on the future.