Steven Miles faces leadership pressure as Labor reels from disastrous by-election result.
Labor's historically dismal 8.2 per cent vote contradicts party leaders' claims that Steven Miles remains their best hope for winning back government in 2028.
Labor leaders insist Steven Miles remains the party’s best chance at winning back government despite a disastrous result at the Hinchinbrook by-election.
But Labor insiders are concerned about the party’s lack of progress in the regions, with allegations Mr Miles has lost control of the factions.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie slammed Labor’s “abysmal” Hinchinbrook result as a direct reflection of Mr Miles’ leadership and a rejection of the “left wing ideology of the Labor Party”.
“Make no mistake, this is a bad result for Steven Miles, this is a bad result for the Labor Party,” he said.
Mr Miles rejected Mr Bleijie’s attacks and said he was only focused on delivering “a nonsensical political rant”.
While Mr Miles is not expected to face a challenge this summer, a three-way tussle is likely if he does vacate the leadership.
Shannon Fentiman and Meaghan Scanlon from the powerful Left faction and the Right’s Cameron Dick, who is Labor’s deputy leader, are expected to challenge.
As the more senior Left member, Ms Fentiman is considered frontrunner to be the next opposition leader.
Mr Miles’s ability to rebuild Labor after the 2024 election defeat was dealt a blow on Saturday when the opposition picked up just 8.2 per cent of the vote at the Hinchinbrook by-election.
It was the party’s worst result since the 1957 split when it attracted just 7.7 per cent in the rural electorate of Condamine.
A Labor Left source said Labor’s lack of relevance in opposition has led to chaos within the factions which Mr Miles has “no control over”.
They said this was seen at the state Labor conference where “agendas took over”, debating motions such as the CFMEU, instead of focusing on key issues such as housing and cost-of-living.
It is understood Labor members have questioned the lack of progress Labor have made in regional Queensland following the result.
Former Labor minister Robert Schwarten said while Labor had no chance of winning Hinchinbrook, the party needed to find its voice in regional Queensland.
“We’ve lost our audience in regional Queensland and we have to get them back somehow,” he said.
“There’s no question given the scorecard, we have to do more.”
Mr Miles has repeatedly insisted he would lead Labor to the 2028 state election and said the party would spend one year developing a new policy platform.
While he maintains support of the caucus, several MPs have told The Courier-Mail there is “frustration” at what they consider a lack of energy and direction under his leadership.
However, Labor frontbencher Grace Grace – who as leader of the Old Guard faction can influence the party’s leadership – said the Hinchinbrook result did not affect support for Mr Miles.
“This is a notoriously different by-election,” she said.
“We wanted to make sure that people had an opportunity to vote for Labor – it was a contest between the KAP and the LNP.
“Steven Miles has 100 per cent support of the caucus.”
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Originally published as Steven Miles faces leadership pressure as Labor reels from disastrous by-election result.
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