Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict on Steven Miles and David Crisafulli ahead of 2024 Qld state election
Our panel of undecided voters have analysed the performance of each leader during the past week of the election campaign, with one leader copping a bleak 3/10 rating. SEE THE VIDEO
QLD Votes
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Votes. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Undecided voters have slammed the men vying to become premier for their lack of vision and clear answers on major issues, including the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli was described as unrelatable and called out for dodging questions and policies lacking in detail.
Meanwhile, voters were also unimpressed with Premier Steven Miles, with voters calling him out for his “unstatesmanlike” demeanour and for not answering questions.
WATCH THE VOTER VEDICT BELOW
The Courier-Mail’s exclusive Voter Verdict of 20 undecided voters chosen by pollster YouGov found Premier Steven Miles narrowly won the second week of the campaign for the second week in a row.
FOLLOW OUR COMPLETE ELECTION COVERAGE HERE
Elodie from Kenmore said Mr Crisafulli’s policies lacked depth, questioning his plan to cut ambulance ramping.
“It’s a very complex and multifaceted problem,” she said.
“It can’t just be solved with one simple little policy.
“This week was just a lot of middle-aged men talking about things like abortion, which don’t really affect them at all.”
Both leaders failed to capture the undecided voters with their plan for Brisbane 2032.
“No one’s using it for a positive in any way, shape or form,” George Solakidis from Minyama said.
“It’s just like it’s a taboo subject because it’s probably costing a lot of money. But then again, that can be used to a positive, but no one’s willing to discuss that.”
Sarah Curry from Wavell Heights said Mr Crisafulli was tiptoeing around his plan for an Olympic stadium.
“Answer concisely and appropriately and just be a strong leader,” she said.
“You want to lead Queensland. Show us how. Show us how you’re going to do it.”
The voters said Mr Crisafulli dodging questions hit a new low in the second week of the campaign.
“A very low point I found was David’s lack of willingness to actually communicate to his constituents or answer any particular questions about the stadium plans or anything to do along those lines,” Matthew Wilson from Geebung said.
“I think that both candidates are still missing the mark in regards to obviously connecting with people and ordinary folks.”
Many of the undecided voters felt like abortion took up too much of the conversation this week after the minority parties said they would propose changes to the state’s laws in the next term of parliament.
“My general thoughts regarding this week is that the topic of abortion has been brought up, and I do not think that that’s a pressing issue right now,” Olivia from Kelvin Grove said.
“I think costs of living and youth crime and a lot of other things need to be discussed and talked about – abortion, not so much.
Gail McIntyre from the Sunshine Coast said she wanted more from both leaders.
“I find that Steven Miles doesn’t come across to me as a statesman or an orator, and that to me is really important,” she said.
“I’d like to see more details from both leaders, particularly where the funding is coming from.
“And how can we, the voters, hold this elected government accountable when promises aren’t kept?”
VOTER VERDICT
Name: Jason Choice
Age: 34
Occupation: OSHC Coordinator
Location: Keperra
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 5/10
“Neither (leader) has mentioned how they’re going to tackle rising housing costs, prices and cost of living,” he said.
“I would like it if David stopped using slogans and started saying how he’s going to do things.”
Name: Breanna
Age: 27
Occupation: Student
Location: New Farm
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 3/10
“David Crisafulli’s plan to prosecute youth offenders as adults. I do find concerning as it doesn’t get to the root cause of the problem, in my opinion,” she said.
“I really want Steven Miles to touch on youth crime, seeing as though that’s a big topic with David Crisafulli.
“I want a response from Steven Miles, More of an extensive conversation around what his plan is with youth crime, especially for the long term.”
Name: Elizabeth
Age: 30
Occupation: Accounts manager
Location: Toowong
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 6/10
“I’m not really convinced by the adult crime, adult time,” she said.
“I’m just not convinced that it’s in anyone’s best interests that kids serve adult time. And what does that really look like?
“I think it sounds like a really hard stance and it sounds like something to kind of be firm on crime, which I think is a good thing. But I don’t understand how that would work, and I’m not sure if that’s really a good option for juvenile criminals.”
Name: Claire Wright
Age: 45
Occupation: Administrator
Location: Redlands
Steven Miles rating: 5/10
David Crisafulli rating: 5/10
“Neither of them has done anything to sway me either way to their parties,” she said.
“I still don’t think that they have connected enough with myself and I am still wanting a little bit more from both of them, to be honest.”
Name: Matthew Wilson
Age: 34
Occupation: Motor resolutions consultant
Location: Geebung
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 3/10
“David Crisafulli has not really sort of gone into detail about his housing plan, but he keeps saying that he’s going to be able to do better,” he said.
“But he’s, he’s provided no actual data or plan.
“A very low point (this week) I found was David’s lack of willingness to actually communicate to his constituents or answer any particular questions about the stadium plans or anything to do along those lines.”
Name: Troy Enright
Age: 33
Occupation: IT Manager
Location: Brisbane City
Steven Miles rating: 4/10
David Crisafulli rating: 6/10
“I did see talk of the Gabba coming back into place for the Olympics, which I think is good, but it was off the back of someone asking that question specifically,” he said.
“There’s talk of like another review, which I think we are sort of quickly running out of time for that.”
Name: Khatra Nekzad
Age: 33
Occupation: Individual giving manager
Location: Brisbane City
Steven Miles rating: 3/10
David Crisafulli rating: 7/10
“I think Crisafulli’s idea of actually expanding the judicial powers to allow, if you do an adult crime, you’ll be charged with adult time,” she said.
“And, I mean, that’s fair enough. And I think him being able to do that and actually make that happen, I think will actually have an effect on youth crime, which is fantastic.”
Name: Olivia
Age: 21
Location: Kelvin Grove
Steven Miles rating: 5/10
David Crisafulli rating: 5/10
“The topic of abortion has been brought up and I do not think that’s a pressing issue right now,” she said.
“I think costs of living and youth crime and a lot of other things need to be discussed and talked about – abortion, not so much.
Name: Stephen Robertson
Age: 43
Occupation: Homemaker
Location: Murgon
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 5/10
“I don’t think Steven or David is really connecting with the people for this election, at least not for me anyway,” he said.
“I’m still not being swayed. I’m still not believing them. I’m still stuck on. Are you really going to stick with your promises when you are done of all these policies?
“I’m not interested in attacking or putting anyone down. That just turns me off completely and makes me wish I didn’t have to vote.”
Name: Jack Lee
Age: 26
Occupation: Junior data analyst
Location: Ashgrove
Steven Miles rating: 7/10
David Crisafulli rating: 6/10
“I know it’s both of their sort of central talking points. But I mean, (I’d like to see more) just the cost of living right now I think it is probably the biggest issue,” he said.
“So just more of that really, honestly, at least for me personally.”
Name: Nicholas
Age: 46
Occupation: DJ
Location: South Brisbane
Steven Miles rating: 8/10
David Crisafulli rating: 0/10
“I have not noticed any moments or policies over the last week,” he said.
Name: Kimberley Lusk
Age: 43
Occupation: Retired chef
Location: Imbil
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 7/10
“I’m interested to hear what Crisafulli will do with youth crime and how he intends to improve things with DV,” she said.
“I would like to hear more about what the intentions are for parole for offenders, especially repeat offenders.
Name: Elodie
Age: 39
Occupation: Medical receptionist
Location: Kenmore
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 5/10
“I think both Miles and Crisafulli have struggled to connect with me this week,” she said.
“It’s just a lot of our middle aged men talking about things like abortion, which don’t really affect them at all.”
Name: Brett Jones
Age: 53
Occupation: Maintenance
Location: Cairns
Steven Miles rating: 8/10
David Crisafulli rating: 7/10
“I like the long term fares at 50c and the energy rebates (from Miles),” he said.
“I’d like to see (Crisafulli) talk about the inflation and the cost of living crisis a little bit more.”
Name: Stephen Muir
Age: 30
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 4.5/10
“I would say it’s not like any campaign I’ve seen in other elections their playing more dirty and spiteful,” he said.
“Crisafulli also doesn’t wanna make up his mind in regards to an Olympic stadium for the 2032 Olympics I think this is going is also cutting a fine line with only eight years to go.”
Name: Simon Levy
Age: 52
Occupation: Commercial manager
Location: Margate
Steven Miles rating: 5/10
David Crisafulli rating: 7/10
“I think Miles is making a lot of mistakes and just doesn’t connect with me at all,” he said.
“The whole Olympics has been an absolute mess.
“And it just shows you the government here has got no idea how to organise anything at all.”
Name: Gail McIntyre
Age: 63
Occupation: Retired
Location: Sunshine Coast
Steven Miles rating: 5/10
David Crisafulli rating: 8/10
“I think David Crisafulli spoke really well with meaning, and he seemed really genuine,” she said.
“I think David Crisafulli actually outlined his policies well, although I’d still like to see more detail about funding.
“I find that Steven Miles doesn’t come across to me as a statesman or an orator, and that to me is really important.”
Name: George Solakidis
Age: 47
Occupation: Senior Lead Specialist
Location: Minyama
Steven Miles rating: 6/10
David Crisafulli rating: 7/10
“It’s been a tit for tat with both leaders, discussing broken promises from ten years ago,” he said.
“I don’t think personally either leaders is really connecting with me at the moment.”
“And also the Olympics is still taboo, it’s inevitable, it’s going to happen.”
Name: Sarah Curry
Age: 42
Occupation: Community engagement specialist
Location: Wavell Heights
Steven Miles rating: 4/10
David Crisafulli rating: 3/10
“ (Crisafulli) is sort of tiptoeing around the big issues. I want a strong leader. I want someone who’s going to be decisive, even if it’s not popular vote,” she said.
“I don’t really love Crisafulli all that much or Steven Miles – It’s kind of better the devil you know than the devil. That’s sort of what it’s coming down to at the moment.”
Name: Beth
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired
Location: Newmarket
Steven Miles rating: 8/10
David Crisafulli rating: 6/10
“I think (Miles) has a better social engagement with the public. He’s a better communicator than David Crisafulli,” she said.
“I’d like to of course, to see more time and energy and effort being put into health care and some innovations around that, but also around literacy. I think that’s really an area of real importance.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Courier-Mail’s Voter Verdict on Steven Miles and David Crisafulli ahead of 2024 Qld state election
Watch: ‘I had a stroke in regional Qld – this new tech saved my life’
A Qld woman says she is alive because a new system, where strokes are diagnosed and “clot-busting” drugs given within minutes, is being piloted at her regional hospital. It comes ahead of a statewide rollout.
Tiny baby’s death: Questions new Child Safety Minister won’t answer
Queensland’s new Child Safety Minister will not commit to a review and has dodged questions about the shocking death of a two-month-old girl, born to an at-risk teen and at the home of long-term foster carers when ambulances were called.