Josh Frydenberg slams Qld deputy premier Steven Miles as ‘stumbling, bumbling lightweight’ as war of words escalates

In the latest move in an increasingly tense war of words between Queensland and the federal government, Josh Frydenberg has slammed Deputy Premier Steven Miles as a “nobody”.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has played the next move in an escalating war-of-words between the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments.

On the Today show on Friday morning, Mr Frydenberg hit back at Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, after a day of back-and-forth between state and federal politicians on Thursday. 

“He’s a stumbling, bumbling lightweight that no-one’s ever heard of, who’s just made it up as he goes,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“I mean, I was asked a question on radio yesterday whether the government’s movement of ADF troops was designed to deliberately damage Queensland’s border policy, and I said that was absolutely rubbish and then he goes and holds a press conference asking me to apologise.

“For what? I mean, this guy, just as Peter Dutton said earlier, is just seeking to pick a fight, to play politics with the pandemic.

“This guy should just grow up.”

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has been labelled a ‘stumbling, bumbling lightweight’ by the Federal Treasurer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has made the next move in an increasingly tense war-of-words between Queensland and federal politicians. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Miles demanded Mr Frydenberg apologise for “lying” about Queensland not asking for additional ADF support.

He passed around email correspondence between Queensland Police and the ADF, and between Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Mr Miles said Mr Frydenberg was another clear example of a “federal government minister being sent out by the Prime Minister to attack our government.”

On Thursday afternoon, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton lashed out at Mr Miles, saying he was playing student politics, and the way he was acting was unbecoming of a state minister.

“He is supposed to be the health minister and the deputy premier of this state and he’s acting like a small child and his allegations today against the treasurer are completely unfounded … his behaviour is beneath the deputy premier and he should be embarrassed,” Mr Dutton said.

As he fronted media on Friday morning, Mr Miles said he wouldn’t let Mr Frydenberg’s bullying tactics distract him.

“They can call me all the names in the world they want to, it’s not going to affect my resolve or Queenslanders’ resolve to address this virus,” Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said while his initial defence to what he believed Mr Frydenberg had said about him was a misinterpretation, it didn’t change the fact that the Treasurer had branded the Deputy Premier a liar.

“I took him saying (in his radio interview with 4BC) what I’d said was garbage... to mean that given I had received a number of questions about whether we had requested a border extension (of ADF support).

“I took it to mean that was what he was talking about but actually, it turns out he was talking about the federal government’s use –misuse in my view –of the army to propagate an argument with us in the lead up to the state election.

“I’m not the one withdrawing the army from our borders.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked why federal ministers continue to target her state’s border control measures. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Both Mr Miles and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have fired up over the Morrison Government’s decision to withdraw troops from the Queensland border from the end of September, while they continue to serve as reinforcements in other states.

“Why is Queensland so different, why has the army been withdrawn from Queensland and not from other states?” he said.

“Why do we have this conga line of Morrison government ministers, every day, on every program out there attacking me, attacking Queensland, attacking our restrictions that have been so successful? The only difference is that we have an election coming up.

“Who do you think is making it political?”

Ms Palaszczuk said she had been advised the ADF would remain on other borders for much longer.

“(They’ll be) On the NSW/ Victoria border until mid-October, the Northern Territory border until the end of October, and the South Australia border until mid-October,” she said.

“I understand SA is trying to extend that to the end of October.

“It’s not fair or reasonable that Queensland has been singled out here. I have written to the Prime Minister, and in response the Minister for Defence clearly states they (the ADF) will not be moving on Queensland.”