Wikipedia

Steven Miles

For other people, see Steven H. Miles and Stephen Miles (disambiguation).

Steven John Miles (born 15 November 1977) is an Australian politician who was the 40th premier of Queensland, in office for 10 months from 2023 to 2024.[2] He is the state leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and previously served as deputy premier from 2020 to 2023.

The Honourable
Steven Miles
MP
Leader of the Opposition in Queensland
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 October 2024
PremierDavid Crisafulli
DeputyCameron Dick
Preceded byDavid Crisafulli
40th Premier of Queensland
In office
15 December 2023 – 28 October 2024
MonarchCharles III
GovernorJeannette Young
DeputyCameron Dick
Preceded byAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Succeeded byDavid Crisafulli
Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 December 2023
DeputyCameron Dick
Preceded byAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Deputy Premier of Queensland
In office
11 May 2020 – 15 December 2023
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byJackie Trad
Succeeded byCameron Dick
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office
11 May 2020 – 15 December 2023
LeaderAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byJackie Trad
Succeeded byCameron Dick
Ministerial positions
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
In office
13 November 2020 – 18 December 2023
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Himself
Preceded byKate Jones (State Development)
Cameron Dick (Infrastructure and Planning)
Stirling Hinchliffe (Local Government)
Succeeded byGrace Grace (as Minister for State Development and Infrastructure)
Meaghan Scanlon (as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government)
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
In office
12 December 2017 – 12 November 2020
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byCameron Dick
Succeeded byYvette D'Ath
Minister for National Parks, The Great Barrier Reef and Environment and Heritage Protection
In office
16 February 2015 – 11 December 2017
PremierAnnastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byAndrew Powell (Environment and Heritage Protection)
Steve Dickson (National Parks)
Succeeded byLeeanne Enoch
Parliamentary offices
Member of the Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 November 2017
Preceded byChris Whiting
ConstituencyMurrumba
In office
31 January 2015 – 25 November 2017
Preceded bySaxon Rice
Succeeded bySeat abolished
ConstituencyMount Coot-tha
Personal details
Born (1977-11-15) 15 November 1977 (age 47)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLabor
SpouseKim McDowell
Children3
Residence(s)Mango Hill, Queensland, Australia[1]
Alma materUniversity of Queensland (PhD)
Signature

Miles was born in Brisbane and completed a PhD on the trade union movement at the University of Queensland. Prior to entering parliament he worked as a union official, political adviser, and public relations consultant. He was elected to parliament at the 2015 Queensland state election, initially representing the seat of Mount Coot-tha before switching to Murrumba at the 2017 election. Miles was appointed to state cabinet after the 2015 election victory and replaced Jackie Trad as Annastacia Palaszczuk's deputy in 2020. He succeeded Palaszcuk as ALP leader and premier unopposed following her retirement in December 2023.

Miles led his government into the 2024 state election in an attempt to win a fourth-consecutive term for the Labor party but was defeated by the opposition Liberal National Party led by David Crisafulli. Miles is the first incumbent Labor Premier to contest and lose a general election in Queensland yet never having been elected to the premiership in the first instance since Federation. Since 1901, Miles is only the second Labor Premier to never be elected to the office at some point in his own right since William Gillies nearly 100 years before him.

Early life

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Miles was born in Brisbane in 1977. His father worked as a fitter at the Golden Circle cannery at Northgate and his mother was a workplace health and safety inspector.[3] He attended Petrie State School and completed his secondary education at St Paul's Anglican School, Bald Hills.[4] He went on to complete the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Queensland.[5] Miles' PhD thesis was titled "Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement".[6]

Miles was a co-founder and managing director of Reveille Strategy, a public relations agency working with progressive organisations to "mobilise for campaigns and trumpet their message to the community".[7] Prior to his election to parliament he also worked as an adviser to state treasurer Andrew Fraser and as industrial relations director of state public sector union Together.[8][9]

Political career

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Miles was initially a member of the Labor Right faction, but switched to Labor Left after he failed to win a preselection ballot for the seat of Pine Rivers prior to the 2009 Queensland state election.[10] He was the unsuccessful Labor candidate for Ryan at the 2010 Australian federal election.[11]

 
Miles in 2017 with Papua New Guinean tourism minister Tobias Kulang

Miles was first elected to state seat of Mount Coot-tha at the 2015 state election.[12] He was sworn in as Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef in the First Palaszczuk ministry on 16 February 2015.[13][14]

As Environment Minister, Miles announced Queensland's first container deposit scheme to improve recycling of can and bottles, which began operating in 2018.[15][16]

Following an electoral redistribution in 2017 that abolished the seat of Mount Coot-tha, Miles stood for the North Brisbane electorate of Murrumba and was elected in the 2017 state election.[17] He was appointed and sworn in as the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services in the Second Palaszczuk ministry after the election.[4] He was health minister for the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and in January 2020 declared a public health emergency, the first such declaration by an Australian state.[10]

In May 2020, Miles was appointed Deputy Premier of Queensland, following the resignation of the previous Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.[18] He continued to be Minister for Health and Ambulance Services until the 2020 state election, after which he was appointed the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning in the Third Palaszczuk ministry.[4]

Premier of Queensland

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See also: Miles ministry and 2023 Queensland Labor Party leadership election

In December 2023, following Palaszczuk's resignation, Miles announced he would be a candidate to succeed her as state premier and ALP leader in Queensland. It was reported that he was aligned with the dominant left faction and enjoyed the support of the United Workers Union.[19] He was initially opposed for the leadership by Shannon Fentiman, but Fentiman subsequently withdrew after a deal was struck between Miles and Cameron Dick of the right faction in which Dick would become deputy premier.[20] He was elected unopposed on 15 December 2023 and sworn in as premier on the same day.[21]

Miles' initial priorities as premier included addressing cost of living pressures, legislating stronger climate and emissions reductions targets, and reducing youth crime.[22][23][24]

Cost of living

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The Miles Government introduced a package of measures in 2024 to ease cost of living pressures including:

  • 50 cent flat-rate fares on public transport across Queensland to save money for commuters and reduce road congestion. A six-month trial of 50 cent fares began on 5 August 2024.[25][26] By September 2024, the trial has deemed successful with public transport patronage increasing beyond pre-pandemic levels. Miles committed to making 50 cent fares permanent if his Labor Government was re-elected.[27]
  • $1000 electricity rebate for all Queensland households. This was in addition to the $300 electricity rebate provided to households by the federal Albanese Government in the 2024 federal budget.[28]
  • 20 percent reduction in vehicle registration fees for 12 months.[29]
  • $200 vouchers to assist families with children aged 5–17 with the cost of membership and participation in sport.[30]

The cost of living measures were funded by the State Government's progressive coal royalties regime, which provided an additional $9.4 billion in revenue to Queensland since it was introduced in 2022. The Miles Government passed legislation to protect progressive coal royalties being removed by a future LNP government.[31][32]

In August 2024, Miles announced that a re-elected Labor Government would lower petrol prices by establishing 12 state-owned fuel stations to improve competition, as well as ban fuel stations from raising the price of fuel more than once a day, and require fuel stations to release price changes a day in advance.[33][34]

Environment and climate change

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Queensland saw a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, which beat the Labor Government's previous emissions target of 30 percent reduction by 2030.[35] In 2024, the Miles Government passed the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024 and Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024 to legislate stronger emissions reductions targets of 75 percent by 2035 and net zero by 2050, and set Queensland's renewable energy targets at 50 percent by 2030, 70 percent by 2032 and 80 percent by 2035. The legislation also entrenched public ownership of energy assets and established a $150 million Job Security Guarantee and Fund to ensure energy workers at existing publicly owned power stations and associated coal mines have access to new jobs and training or financial assistance during the State's transition to renewable energy.[36][37]

At the 2024–25 State Budget, the Miles Government announced $26 billion over four years would be invested into renewable power, storage and transmission projects in Queensland, including $8.68 billion in 2024–25 alone.[38][39][40] Miles also opposed the federal Liberal National Party proposal to support to introduce nuclear energy to Australia and construct nuclear reactors in Queensland.[41][42]

In 2024, the Miles Government expanded environmental protection in Queensland by banning all carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin;[43] protecting an additional 59,000 hectares of land by creating two new national parks (The Lakes National Park near Hughenden and Malbon Thompson Range National Park near Cairns) and expanding 18 existing national parks;[44] and adding 140 islands or parts of islands within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to Queensland's protected areas estate.[45]

Housing and homelessness

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In 2024 Miles announced the $3.1 billion 'Homes for Queenslanders' plan to build one million new homes by 2046, including 53,000 new social homes.[46][47] As part of that plan the Miles Government passed rental reform legislation that strengthen the rights of tenants, banned rent-bidding by real estate agents, created a portable bond scheme to allow tenants to transfer bond from one property to another.[48][49][50] Miles also announced every specialist homelessness services in Queensland would receive a 20 percent increase in funding.[51][52]

The Miles Government removed stamp duty for first homebuyers on properties valued up to $700,000.[53]

Social policy

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The Miles Government passed legislation in 2024 to decriminalise the sex work industry that repealed all previously existing criminal offences relating to sex work and improved the health, safety, and workplace rights of sex workers.[54][55]

2024 election

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At the 2024 Queensland state election, Labor was defeated, losing 15 seats with a 7% two-party-preferred swing towards the Liberal National Party (LNP). Miles initially held back on conceding to LNP leader David Crisafulli and controversially claimed the LNP would not be able to form a majority. Following significant criticism, he conceded defeat at a press conference the next day, after the ABC had called the election in the LNP's favour, having won a majority of 5 seats.[56][57]

As a result of the election, Miles is the first incumbent Labor Premier to both contest and lose a general election in Queensland yet never having been elected to the premiership in the first instance since Federation. Since 1901, Miles is only the second Labor Premier to never be elected to the office at some point in his own right since William Gillies nearly 100 years before him in 1925.

Per state Labor Party rules, the defeat triggered an automatic leadership spill. Miles was re-elected unopposed as Labor leader, and hence Leader of the Opposition, after senior Labor MPs Cameron Dick and Shannon Fentiman chose not to contest the leadership.[58]

Personal life

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Miles has three children with his wife Kim McDowell.[59] Miles supports the Brisbane Broncos.[60] During the 2024 Queensland state election, Miles' ability to bench press 100 kilograms gained widespread attention. [61]

References

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  1. ^ Lynch, Lydia (11 May 2020). "Queensland has a new deputy premier and treasurer: who are they?". The Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
  2. ^ "The Governor received the call of the 40th Premier of Queensland the Honourable Steven Miles MP who tendered his resignation as Premier". X. Governor of Queensland. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Queensland Labor". Queensland Labor. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Hon Dr Steven Miles". Parliament of Queensland. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Our Minister". QLD Government. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement "Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement"". University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Environment law and policy tracker". Footprint News. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ^ Turner, Adam (26 February 2008). "Microsoft serves up for Labor". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Hon Dr Steven Miles". Members Details. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  10. ^ a b Scott, Leisa (9 October 2020). "Miles uncensored: Resurfaced interview gives rare insight into how 'Giggles' became Premier-in-waiting". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Mount Coot-tha Results". ABC. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  12. ^ Green, Antony. "Mount Coot-tha". Queensland Election 2015. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Queensland's new Labor Cabinet sworn in at Government House". Australian Broadcasting Corporation 16 February 2015. 15 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  14. ^ "Introducing the new Environment Minister". 612 ABC Brisbane. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  15. ^ Moore, Tony (22 July 2016). "Queenslanders recycling cans and containers will get 10 cents back from 2018". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Container deposit scheme for Queensland". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ "'I was gutted': Miles confirms boundary reshuffle forcing move to Murrumba". ABC News. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Jackie Trad resigns as Queensland's Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Steven Miles and Cameron Dick to take on portfolios". ABC News. 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Annastacia Palaszczuk's anointed successor, Steven Miles, likely to face challenge, say Queensland Labor MPs". Guardian Australia. 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Steven Miles to replace Annastacia Palaszczuk as Queensland premier". ABC News. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Steven Miles elected unopposed by Labor MPs as Queensland's new premier with Cameron Dick the deputy premier". ABC News. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Premier Miles' inaugural speech". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  23. ^ Messenger, Andrew (15 December 2023). "Steven Miles announces ambitious emissions reduction plan in first speech as Queensland premier". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  24. ^ Dennien, Matt (15 December 2023). "Climate, costs, crime and health: Miles details his priorities for Qld". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Miles plan to bust congestion: Public transport (almost) free". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Future of Queensland's 50-cent public transport fare depends on how many commuters get on board, says premier". ABC News. 4 August 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Queensland government promises to keep 50 cent fares 'forever'". ABC News. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Miles government delivers $1,000 for Queensland households". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  29. ^ "More Miles for less: Government cuts rego by 20 per cent". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Miles Doing What Matters: 100,000 more FairPlay vouchers for Queensland kids". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Miles Labor Government safeguards progressive coal royalty tiers". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  32. ^ Thomson, Olivia (13 September 2024). "Queensland safeguards progressive coal royalty tiers". Australian Mining. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Miles Doing What Matters: Cheaper fuel for Queenslanders, pumped from state-owned assets". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  34. ^ Messenger, Andrew (5 August 2024). "Queensland Labor plans state-owned petrol stations as it bids for fourth term". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Queensland hits emissions reduction target eight years early". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Queensland locks 80% renewable energy by 2035 target into law". pv magazine Australia. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Miles Labor Government locks in 100,000 jobs for the future". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  38. ^ "$26 billion renewables investment backs regional jobs". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  39. ^ Messenger, Andrew (5 June 2024). "Queensland government to fuel state's transition to renewable energy with $26bn investment". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  40. ^ "Queensland budget amps up renewables with $26 billion investment". pv magazine Australia. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  41. ^ "Nuclear will cost Queensland jobs". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Qld premier raises problem of water risk under Dutton's nuclear plan". Australian Financial Review. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  43. ^ "Miles more protections for Great Artesian Basin". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Two new national parks formally established". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protected area grows". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Homes for Queenslanders: New plan to drive 53,500 social homes". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  47. ^ "Homes for Queenslanders". www.housing.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  48. ^ "Homes for Queenslanders: New laws strengthen renter rights". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  49. ^ "Queensland has announced major changes to address the state's housing crisis. Here's what's changing". ABC News. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  50. ^ "Rent bidding will soon become a thing of the past in this state". SBS News. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  51. ^ "Homes for Queenslanders: massive financial boost for state's homelessness services". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  52. ^ "Kent and his family have been living in different motels for more than six months". ABC News. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  53. ^ "Cost of Living for Queensland first home buyers". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  54. ^ "Reforms promise better protection for Queensland's sex workers". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  55. ^ Messenger, Andrew (2 May 2024). "Sex work decriminalised in Queensland after decades of campaigning". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  56. ^ "IN FULL: Outgoing Queensland Premier Steven Miles concedes election defeat". ABC News and YouTube. 27 October 2024.
  57. ^ "Outgoing Queensland premier Steven Miles concedes election after LNP victory". 9news.com.au. 27 October 2024.
  58. ^ "Senior Queensland Labor figures rule out leadership challenge". The Australian. 27 October 2024. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  59. ^ "Steven Miles's first interview since elevation to Deputy Premier". The Courier-Mail. 16 May 2020. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  60. ^ Smee, Ben (15 December 2023). "He's a PhD scholar and Al Gore alumnus, but Steven Miles' march to power began in the outer suburbs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  61. ^ "Queensland Premier Steven Miles proves he's Australia's strongest politician with an INCREDIBLE act in the gym". 20 October 2024. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode= ignored (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Premier of Queensland
2020–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Premier of Queensland
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2024–present 		Incumbent
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Mount Coot-tha
2015–2017 		Abolished
Preceded by Member for Murrumba
2017–present 		Incumbent
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