Steven Miles endorsed as Queensland’s next premier
Asked if he would be a puppet of United Workers Union boss Gary Bullock new Queensland Premier Steven Miles doubled down.
New Queensland Premier Steven Miles has described the union leader who sealed the industrial deal that secured him the top job as a “mentor”.
United Workers Union boss Gary Bullock was behind a backroom deal with the Australian Workers Union, revealed by The Australian this week, that guaranteed Mr Miles the numbers in caucus to give him the top job.
When asked on Friday if he would be a puppet of Mr Bullock’s, who he speaks with regularly, Mr Miles said: “Well, like anyone, I’ve had many mentors in my life, and Gary is one of them.
“I’m proud to be a member of two trade unions; those trade unions represent tens of thousands of Queenslanders. But what I have always done in all of my portfolios is listen to everybody.”
Former NSW premier Kristina Keneally faced similar questions about union influence when she took over the Labor leadership in 2009 and told parliament: “I am nobody’s puppet, I am nobody’s protege, I am nobody’s girl.’’
Mr Miles said he wanted to lead a more “consultative” government and would launch a new forum so that business, industry and unions could “work together for Queensland’s future”.
“You know, ultimately, I’m a suburban Queenslander with three kids and so many Queenslanders are like me, and I want to demonstrate to them that I understand what concerns them in their day-to-day lives and how government can help them,” he said.
In a speech to industry leaders, political heavyweights and public service bosses on Friday, Mr Miles revealed he would lift the state’s emissions-reduction target to 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035.
“Whether you live in one of our regional cities and you’re concerned about keeping a blue-collar job, or in the inner city and worried about climate change, or working on a farm experiencing the ravages of natural disasters, reducing our emissions is crucial to creating a shared and prosperous future.”
Five new ministers will be elevated to Mr Miles’ cabinet in the biggest overhaul of Labor’s frontbench since 2015.
The reshuffle is part of the Premier’s bid to distance himself from Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government and rehabilitate the Labor image ahead of next October’s election.
Mr Miles, who was formally sworn in on Friday afternoon, said he would lead a “fresh government with a fresh approach”.
Charis Mullen, Bart Mellish and Michael Healy from the party’s Right faction have been promoted to cabinet along with Lance McCallum and Nikki Boyd from the Left.
Ms Palaszczuk, Stirling Hinchliffe and Mark Bailey will depart the ministry, as will Craig Crawford, who shepherded through the state’s historic treaty laws earlier this year.
Mr Miles said the carve-up of portfolios would be unveiled on Monday.
“The three men who have stepped aside from the cabinet have done the government, and ultimately the state, a service by doing so,” he said. “We wanted to have fresh faces … and to do that some people had to stand aside.”
Failed leadership rival Shannon Fentiman will retain the health portfolio and be promoted to the Left faction’s parliamentary leader.
Ali King, Shane King, Jimmy Sullivan, Jen Howard and Corrine McMillan have been elevated to the outer ministry.
After 17 years as a member of parliament, Ms Palaszczuk will finish as Inala MP on New Year’s Eve. It was understood Ms Palaszczuk’s deputy chief of staff and Right faction ally Jon Persley – who was widely expected to be the frontrunner for the seat – has decided not to run.
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