Miles gets the blues with ‘Temu Labor budget’ in reply speech

Queensland Opposition Leader Steven Miles has blasted the Crisafulli government’s first state budget as full of broken promises, while claiming credit for many of its measures and announcing some new ones of his own.

In his first budget reply speech on Thursday, the former premier said the best parts of Treasurer David Janetzki’s budget were continuing Labor initiatives.

“It’s just a Temu version of what we had planned,” Miles said of the budget during his 58-minute speech in parliament.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles delivered his first budget reply speech on Thursday (file photo).Credit: William Davis

“Labor’s 50¢ fares, our signature transport policy. Help to Buy – a Labor initiative. All of the capital program is Labor’s – just less of it and delivered later.

“Health checks for kids? Labor policy. Fair play vouchers? That was ours too. So we welcome all of those things.”

Miles used the speech to announce some new Labor policies, including a $10 million commitment to assist the community services sector store, refrigerate and distribute food to vulnerable people across the state should Labor be returned to power in 2028.

“It’s not the answer to the growing problem that is food insecurity, but it’s one way I know we can make a practical difference,” he said.

What had been a 20-year commitment to reduce land tax by 50 per cent for build-to-rent developments in 2023 would also be extended.

“The rental market is continuing to tighten and vacancy rates remain incredibly low – that’s why driving this kind of investment is what we need,” he said.

“In their budget this week, the New South Wales government extended the same tax concession indefinitely. At the next election a [Queensland] Labor government will also extend that tax cut indefinitely.

“That’s how we will match New South Wales, not through stealing their colour.”

It was one of many references to the colour blue made in parliament on Thursday.

Miles blasted what he described as a “blue budget of broken promises” that he said would be highlighted Labor’s new broken promise tracker website.

“I’ll be updating that list to keep this government and this premier to account so they can’t sweep these broken promises under the rug,” he said.

“There are some pretty big ones already.

“The premier promised Queenslanders that their energy bills would be lower, but in fact they will be higher – $77 higher in the south-east and even more in the regions.

“He promised energy bill rebates, but most households will get none.

“The premier promised to deliver 2200 new hospital beds by 2028. Instead, they’ve torn up that plan, with Queenslanders left to wait to find out the timeline for their hospital to get upgraded the government’s future health capital program pushed off into the Never-Never.”

And he also took another dig at the government rebranding, which had replaced maroon with blue.

“We bleed maroon, because that’s our state, our colour, and yet this government has, without consultation or explanation, tried to bluewash our identity,” he said.

“While the premier has labelled this a ‘silly little game’, I don’t think it’s silly at all and neither do Queenslanders.

“Maroon has always and will always be quintessentially Queenslander. Our Maroons will soon line up to fight for our state in a decider.

“Meanwhile, the member for Bluewater – I mean, Broadwater [Premier David Crisafulli] – is painting the town blue.

“I wish it was a joke, but sadly, this is the reality now. Our state identity and logo appearing on TV screens, letterheads, billboards and budget documents will now so closely align with LNP branding, you would easily get the two confused.”

Earlier, in question time, Janetzki ridiculed Miles for raising the rebranding as his first question to the government.

“The leader of the opposition is preoccupied with the colour of the cover of the budget papers,” he said.

“On this side of the house, we are focused on the numbers inside the budget that employs living standards for Queenslanders. That that is what we are focused on.”

After Miles’s speech, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie went on the attack, saying the “embarrassing” speech had no new initiatives, no funding and “secret Labor taxes”.

“Opposition Leader Steven Miles just delivered his first budget reply and his last,” he said.

“That wasn’t a budget reply – that was a valedictory speech.”