‘Stakes are really high’: Premier’s tropical tour as campaign heats up
Nine days to go. Three cities in one day. And $180 billion of state debt – that’s day 16 of Premier Steven Miles’ campaign to hold on to the state’s top job in a nutshell.
Labor’s bid for re-election headed north on Thursday, proving that old “all politics is local” adage along the way, with millions of dollars promised to shore up support in Labor seats up the coast.
Miles, wife Kim McDowell, deputy Cameron Dick, their protection detail and the media pack assigned to follow them around the state this week all boarded the somewhat cosy 30-seat SAAB 340B Plus charter plane early Thursday morning.
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Steven Miles visit BB Print Stadium in Mackay to make a Labor funding announcement.Credit: Cameron Atfield
First stop, Mackay, where Miles announced a $26 million election commitment to improve two stadiums in the heart of cane country.
Labor heartland does not get much more traditionally red than Mackay, which has had a state Labor MP for 120 years. With the retirement of local MP Julieanne Gilbert, who held the seat with a margin of 6.72 per cent, Miles is desperate to keep that streak going.
Not for the first time this campaign – and almost certainly not for the last – Miles conceded retaining government was a tough ask for his party and he would take nothing for granted.
“Queensland elections are always hard to win, but what you’ve seen from me is a fight to win it every single day,” he said under the shade in the BB Print Stadium grandstand.
“We’ve been campaigning hard to win this election, and we’ll continue to do that right up until election day, because the stakes are really high.”
His challenger, LNP leader David Crisafulli, was back in the familiar north. He visited his home town of Ingham, after earlier stopping in the traditional political epicentre of Townsville while campaigning on youth crime.
Crisafulli promised two new centres to rehabilitate young criminals. But he appeared most fired up while responding to an LNP candidate’s account of allegedly being assaulted and threatened by two men seven weeks earlier.
The LNP candidate for Gregory, Sean Dillon, told 4BC he was assaulted and threatened by strangers who told him to “keep my union-bashing mouth shut”.
Sean Dillon (right) watched on as party leader David Crisafulli poured a beer in Longreach earlier in the campaign.Credit: Matt Dennien
Dillon, the former Barcaldine mayor, said the “shakedown” occurred after he pulled over on an isolated road near his property to help the men he thought had broken down.
Police confirmed they were investigating a complaint about an incident on August 27.
Asked about Dillon’s account, Crisafulli appeared emotional and said “it’s pretty harrowing”.
Crisafulli – who had campaigned with Dillon more recently – suggested the candidate had been targeted by Labor sympathisers. He demanded justice if there was any “linkages to the militant union”.
“To have somebody roughed up because they put their hand up to serve … it says everything that is wrong about aggression in politics,” he told reporters.
While no conspiracy has been proven, nor any charges laid, Miles said “clearly there’s no place for that kind of behaviour in our democracy”.
Miles told reporters he regarded Dillon as a friend – “I wouldn’t say that about many LNP candidates” – and would reach out to him.
Dillon, for what it’s worth, said unions had traditionally played an important role in Australia, and the political debate should be about policies.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli with Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber (far left) and LNP local candidates Adam Bailie, Natalie Marr, and Janelle Poole outside Townsville’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt
Back on the Labor campaign, Miles and Dick brushed away questions that have plagued the leadership team since Annastacia Palaszczuk stepped aside – what union and factional deals were made to install Miles in the state’s top job?
“There was no deal,” Miles insisted.
“The agreement was set between Cameron and I and we agreed to run together as a team.
“There was no vote in the caucus room because we were the only nominees and we were unanimously supported by the caucus room, but I have but I’ve never shied away from the fact that I want to win an election in my own right.”
For Miles, doubts about the legitimacy of his premiership could only be allayed one way – winning on October 26.
“Getting this job, it’s been the greatest honour of my life and I’ve had 10 months to audition for it permanently,” he said.
“I think I’ve done a pretty good job in those 10 months of showing Queenslanders both how I can support them and the long-term plans that I have for our state’s future.”
The campaign barely had time to get accustomed to terra firma before it was back to the airport for an hour-long on-journey to Townsville.
There, Miles committed $4.6 million to improve Ronald McDonald House facilities in Townsville and in Brisbane.
Miles didn’t take questions in Townsville. That was left to Dick, who revealed that, taking into account all of Labor’s commitments – both announced and unannounced – the state would be in $180 billion debt by 2027-28.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles drinks a beer at the Barrier Reef Hotel in Cairns, as part of a Politics In The Pub campaign event.Credit: Cameron Atfield
After another quick tour, it was back to the tarmac and on to Cairns.
And the premier, for one, was bullish about Labor’s chances in the far north.
“Cairns is really important to our state, and I expect that we will hold those seats,” Miles said.
A late afternoon touchdown in the tropics and there was only one place to go after such a frenetic day of travel – the Barrier Reef Hotel for an Advance Cairns-hosted “Politics in the Pub” event.
Ending a big day of campaigning at a pub? More than a few weary travellers could drink to that.
With Catherine Strohfeldt
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