Premier-to-be Miles, deputy Dick make leadership pitch to MPs

Steven Miles is all but set to be confirmed as Queensland’s next premier by the weekend after agreeing to a new leadership team with Treasurer Cameron Dick as his deputy.

Announcing a 12-month vehicle registration freeze from July 1 next year as a first cost-of-living move, Miles said the pair would take their pitch to a meeting of fellow Labor MPs on Friday.

“There will be changes to cabinet, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Steven Miles said on Tuesday.Credit: Louise Kennerley

But the meeting should be little more than a formality, after Miles’ Left faction ally Shannon Fentiman dropped her brief bid for the top job when faction and union support aligned with Miles.

Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to step down from Friday after almost nine years in the job triggered swift internal party and union movement discussion around an ultimate successor, with Miles, Dick and Fentiman included in talks of those with leadership potential and ambition.

“Yesterday I asked Cameron Dick to join me as my deputy in a leadership team that we will take to the Labor Party caucus on Friday,” Miles told journalists on Tuesday.

“I will have much more to say about my leadership and the government I lead once Caucus has made that decision. I am not, and I will not, take that decision for granted.

“What I do know is that a government I lead will be absolutely focused on the task of helping Queenslanders every single day in every way we possibly can.”

Appearing with Miles, Education Minister Grace Grace and Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon, Dick said Miles was the right person to lead the state.

“I am proud to stand here today to say Steven Miles should be the next premier of Queensland and I will be supporting him when our parliamentary party meets later in the week,” Dick said.

Miles confirmed Dick would retain the treasury portfolio, and that he did not intend to shift Fentiman from the health role – also offering her the leadership of the dominant Left faction.

While Grace also confirmed she expected to remain in cabinet, Miles said changes would be worked through after Friday’s meeting.

“There will be changes to cabinet, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.

Given a “strong endorsement” by the outgoing Palaszczuk, Miles publicly declared his intention within hours of her announcement on Sunday.

The twin leadership contenders from the 25-member Left faction split support, allowing the smaller 18-member Right faction – including Dick and Palaszczuk – along with its affiliated unions to play a key role in coalescing support behind Miles into Monday night.

After declaring on Monday she had “significant support” for a different approach to take the party forward after internal frustrations and poor polls, Fentiman posted on social media early Tuesday to withdraw her pitch.

Labor’s administrative committee will open formal nominations for the leadership at midday on Friday.

Under party rules, more than one candidate seeking the role at the close of nominations would have triggered three equally weighted votes among MPs, affiliated unions and grassroot members, driving the days-long push to avoid a drawn-out and process.

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