Premier Steven Miles defends storm absence, saying ‘good leaders spend some time with their family’

Premier Steven Miles has staunchly defended his decision to take a family holiday this week as he joined the ADF taking part in the ongoing clean-up from the state’s wild-weather disaster.

Premier Steven Miles has staunchly defended his decision to take a family holiday this week as the clean-up from the state’s wild-weather disaster continued, saying “good leaders spend some time with their family”.

Mr Miles has been on a short holiday with his wife Kim and children on the Sunshine Coast this week – with Deputy Cameron Dick serving as Acting Premier.

On Thursday afternoon, he travelled to the Gold Coast to lend a helping hand and thank ADF and emergency crews for their storm recovery efforts.

The newly appointed Premier was asked about public criticism of his decision to take leave as parts of Queensland battled no power, damaged businesses and homes, and blocked roadways – saying he was in constant contact with the disaster management efforts.

The Premier Steven Miles visits the ADF who have moved in to help in the clean up at Kriedeman Road in Wangawallan after ferocious storms damaged the Gold Coast area. Pics Adam Head

“(When I became Premier) I promised I would work hard for Queenslanders every day – and that has been precisely what I have done,” he said.

“However, I also said in that speech that I intend to continue to spend a small amount of time with my young family when I can.

“The reason I gazetted leave this week was that it allows the Deputy Premier to be the Acting Premier, and take on official duties such as chair of the disaster management committee.

“Good leaders spend some time with their family.

“What you get with a leader who has a family is the need to balance that, and to spend some time with them, and I don’t think a day here or there is that unusual.”

ADF help in the clean up at Kriedman Road in Wangawallan after ferocious storms dame the Gold Coast area. Pics Adam Head

Speaking to the storm damage he’s seen, Mr Miles said you could tell “just how scary it must have been”.

“Massive trees toppled over, entire yards just full of fallen trees,” he said.

“You can really tell this was one of the hardest hit areas, where some of the strongest winds were felt.”

ADF troops help in the clean up at Kriedman Road in Wangawallan. Pics Adam Head

The Premier also said he was in touch with the disaster response team and Mr Dick while on leave, and travelled to the Gold Coast to meet with Mayor Tom Tate on Tuesday – despite being officially on leave.

“There are no days off in this job, I am constantly in contact with the team but I also have the benefit of a large and experienced team,” he said.

Pressed on whether criticism of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s infamous Hawaii trip during the bushfires in 2019 was justified, Mr Miles said his decision to take leave was a “question for the judgement of the people of Queensland’’.

“I’m in a caravan park on the Sunshine Coast – I think it’s a bit different,” he said.

Damage to a Helensvale home after the Christmas Night storm that hit the Gold Coast.

The Premier worked up a sweat as he cleared tree branches alongside Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt.

ADF members sawed a tree covering Kreideman Road in Upper Coomera while the political trio collected and launched the logs off the road into shrubbery.

Mr Miles praised the ADF personnel saying, “we’re so glad to have you”.

“It’s making such a huge difference, they’re moving through this really quickly,” he said.

“That’s the power of having the Defence Force here, reinforcing our SES and our energy workers, everyone’s doing such a fantastic job.”

Mr Miles said first responders were tested through summer with the triple weather disaster of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Christmas storms and New Year’s flooding.

“A lot of these people have been working in the Far North where it’s even hotter, even more humid and then they’ve come down to do the work here,” he said.

“But like Queenslanders do, we stuck together, we rolled our sleeves up, we’re getting the place cleaned up, we’re getting the power back on.”

Originally published as Premier Steven Miles defends storm absence, saying ‘good leaders spend some time with their family’