10 key moments from Steven Miles and David Crisafulli showdown
They were the moments that could yet decide Queensland’s next Premier – so who handled them better? WATCH THE VIDEO
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They were the heartbreaking, soul-searching and confronting moments that could yet decide Queensland’s next Premier.
The Courier-Mail’s showdown between Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli tossed up several eye-opening moments – these are the ones that got us talking.
Readers have already chimed in with their take on the debate.
■ WATCH A REPLAY OF THE SHOWDOWN HERE
Solving the state’s issues
From housing to cost of living, Mr Miles and Mr Crisafulli have no shortage of challenges ahead of them.
The pair outlined exactly why they are the person who should lead Queensland.
“I want Queensland to be the place that does the most to support families and households,” Mr Miles said.
“I know we need to do more.”
Crisafulli added: “Cost of living is a priority for me and it’s a priority for everyone in this room. As opposition leader it’s my job to hold the government accountable.
“I want to give big picture solutions to big ticket items that are concerning Queenslanders.”
‘It’s about accepting responsibility’
The government’s looming supermarket inquiry has sparked fears of yet another “talkfest”, with both leaders backing their stance.
“I don’t think that means we shouldn’t try,” Mr Miles said of concerns over how influential the inquiry could be.
“I think the parliamentary inquiry can expose to the public some of the ways our supermarkets treat our farmers.”
Mr Crisafulli, though, said the focus should be elsewhere.
“This inquiry, while it’s very important that we put the blowtorch on the supermarkets, is also an opportunity to focus on the things that the state government controls,” he said.
“What we need is a cross-parliamentary inquiry – there’s no point having an inquiry on things you can’t control.”
Mr Miles said a separate cost of living inquiry will deal with other cost of living issues.
However Mr Crisafulli still took aim.
“It’s not about dilution – it’s about accepting responsibility. Those things that are hurting households are hurting everybody,” he said.
Solutions for Qld’s homeless crisis
Dawn, a First Nations woman living in crisis accommodation, travelled down to Brisbane to ask the leaders what they will do to help homeless people in North Queensland.
Premier Steven Miles said the state government had a “bunch of programs” to support people who are renting, affirming levers like rental subsidies helped those as they moved between properties.
“But as I said earlier, we don’t want people to just have a roof over their head. We want them to be able to pay the rent and save some money so that eventually they get a deposit and buy their own home,” he said.
“And that’s, that’s really our aspiration for Queenslanders. It’s one that starts with taking care of people.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said social housing had not kept pace with the growth in demand and it was “not even close”.
Leaders split on continuation of bill rebate
Steven Miles refused to reveal if the state government will continue to provide its $550 electricity bill rebate beyond the June state budget.
But Opposition Leader David Crisafulli committed to splashing the cash for the rebate, which is more than $1000 for vulnerable Queenslanders, while delivering a sledge to the government’s handling of the power sector.
“I want to give this room the certainty and I want to give Queenslanders at home watching the certainty,” he said.
“Those programs have to continue – they have to – because people are at breaking point, and they’re breaking point because the underlying structural issues in the state are broken.
“And that’s why power prices have gone up because of an inability to properly maintain assets and to bring new ones online at an affordable rate.”
‘No privatisation of energy assets’
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli ruled out the privatisation of Queensland’s energy assets.
“The privatisation of power assets isn’t on the agenda, it shouldn’t be on the agenda,” he said.
Mr Crisafulli said he was focused on ensuring the state’s power plants were running smoothly while ensuring new energy coming online is “on time and on budget”, as he took aim at the costs of the state government’s proposed pumped hydro projects.
Despite Mr Crisafulli’s clear rejection of power asset sales Premier Steven Miles tried to assert the only option in October to prevent the sale of energy facilities was to pick Labor because the LNP tried selling assets the last time they were in government.
“Queensland has the lowest retail power prices on the eastern seaboard and we want to keep it that way,” Mr Miles said.
‘What will it do to power prices?’
The cost of building Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro has been tipped to escalate past the estimated $12bn, with Premier Steven Miles previously indicating the state will still foot the bill for the “critical project”.
However the issue re-emerged in the showdown, with a terse exchange.
“How much will Pioneer cost? When will it be built? What will it do to power prices? It hasn’t been mentioned in parliament,” Mr Crisafulli asked.
Mr Miles fired back: “Would you support it or do you cut it? That’s the question.”
Mr Crisafulli: “So what does it cost?
Mr Miles: “If you won’t pay what it costs then you cut it.”
‘Don’t go back to sleeping in your car’
Steven Miles pleaded with a man in the audience to “don’t go back to sleeping in your car” after a man, Rodney, revealed a heartbreaking story of falling through the cracks.
He told the leaders he is not eligible for specific support payments and is struggling to keep a roof over his head despite having an income.
The Premier urged Rodney to reach out to the government for help and committed to speaking to him at the end of the live discussion.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he agreed with the Premier and also urged the man to reach out for help rather than retreat back to sleeping rough.
But the LNP Leader blamed Rodney’s predicament on “long term housing (being) broken”
“And the biggest reason why it’s broken is there just isn’t enough supply,” he said.
‘Can’t top a lasagne with $10 worth of cheese’
The two leaders were asked how the cost of living pressures has impacted them.
Premier Steven Miles said he was fortunate to have a well-paying job but this wasn’t always the case in his career, especially as a family with three kids in the suburbs.
Mr Miles lamented the experience of every parent or guardian with teenage boys – their ability to go through astronomical amounts of food.
“He can go through one of those boxes of NutriGrain in a day, and they’re $11 now,” he said.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the cost of groceries was out of control, revealing he went to the supermarket the other day and managed to carry in his arms $256 worth of groceries – illustrating how little he was able to buy for how much he spent.
He said a packet cheese was “north of $10” and that was no longer enough to top a lasagne.
“It is out of control,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I just want Queenslanders to know that we understand and we are listening to what you’re saying and cost of living, it’s the thing that keeps coming up.”
‘I’ve moved four times in two years’
One reader said her rent had gone up from about $600 a week to $800 in the past few months, highlighting the housing issue and putting the heat on the two leaders to find answers.
Mr Miles: “We looked at the implications of capping rent increases and it could have the reverse impact. We have also banned rent bidding and we’re going to bring in a code of conduct for rent managers.”
Crisafulli: “Don’t just make announcements – deliver and hold people to account. I share the same passion as the Premier in increasing supply, the difference is I haven’t had the opportunity across the past nine years to do something about it.”
Punting on gambling
Relationships Australia Queensland chief executive Natasha Rae asked the leaders about their plans for gambling harm minimisation.
Mr Crisafulli said he planned to speak to the experts, like Relationships Australia, about what can be done.
He acknowledged problem gamblers were the “lion’s share” of the losses and those that simply went to the pub for a punt every once in a while weren’t the issue.
Mr Crisafulli said he hoped to strike the right balance between reducing the harms of gambling and ensuring everyday Queenslanders had the ability to have a punt if they wanted.
Premier Steven Miles acknowledged the causes of problem gambling were complex and addressing the issue was also complex in turn.
He spruiked the state government’s mental health levy that allows them to fund more mental health and support services.
Originally published as 10 key moments from Steven Miles and David Crisafulli showdown
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