Qld Opposition leader Steven Miles on struggling Cairns families

Far North Queensland families who own cars will suffer financially, according to the Opposition leader.

Cairns MP Michael Healy (left) and Queensland Opposition leader Steven Miles held a press conference in Cairns on Thursday, July 10. Picture: Brian Cassey

Far North Queensland families who own cars will suffer financially, according to the Opposition leader.

Steven Miles joined Cairns MP Michael Healy on Thursday as the state responded to the CFMEU Watson Review.

Mr Miles’ agenda included a meeting with Advance Cairns to discuss the Common User Facility, a peak at the Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair as well as highlighting the financial burdens Far North households were enduring.

“David Crisafulli seems to think the cost of living crisis is over but I know Far North Queensland families are continuing to struggle,” Mr Miles said.

Queensland Opposition leader Steven Miles and Cairns MP Michael Healy address the cost of living. Picture: Brian Cassey

“In fact, they will struggle $514 more, because that’s how much more this budget slugs them if they’re a family with two cars.

“Rates are up $155 for the year, registration up $168 for those two cars, energy bills up $72, but up even more because most people will not get ($1000) rebates and water access and usage charges are up $119,” the Opposition leader said, referring to the 2025-26 financial year.

A state government spokesman said Labor didn’t campaign on the $1000 rebate and failed to mention it in its budget reply.

“Steven Miles fled to Cairns to avoid answering questions on the protection racket the Labor Party was running for the CFMEU,” he said.

“A decade of Labor chaos and crisis drove up cost of living pressures for households and created the youth crime, health and housing crises.”

Mulgrave MP Terry James, Barron River MP Bree James and Cook MP David Kempton at their swearing-in ceremony.

After a regional bloodbath for Labor at the state election, where it lost all but one of its North Queensland seats, the Opposition leader said clawing back the trust of voters would come by highlighting the LNP’s “shortfalls”.

“That’s precisely why I’m here. It’s only been a few months and you can see on how many fronts these new LNP MPs have failed this region,” he said, referring to the axing of the First Nations cultural centre and the indefinite delay of the CUF.

“I’d emphasise that you don’t have to take my word for that, you’ve only got to listen to (Cook MP) David Kempton, who says the same thing, that the LNP is delivering nothing for the regions.

“So we’re going to be here, we’re going to be talking about that, we’re going to be listening to locals, and you should expect us to do that for the next three and a half years.”

The government spokesman backed the performance of the three Far North LNP members and pointed to investments in yet to be announced early intervention programs, emergency service upgrades and investments into social housing.

Originally published as Qld Opposition leader Steven Miles on struggling Cairns families