Former Deputy Premier Steven Miles was officially sworn in in as Queensland’s Premier with Treasurer Cameron Dick as his deputy. The Queensland Labor Government avoided a lengthy leadership ballot after Health Minister Shannon Fentiman withdrew from the race, conceding that her Left factional ally Miles had the numbers.

The new Premier has announced a significant Cabinet reshuffle, with five newcomers joining the frontbench, replacing three Ministers who have moved to the backbench.

Cameron Dick’s Right faction gained an additional Cabinet position in exchange for their support of Steven Miles.

The new leadership team faces an uphill battle to retain power at next year’s October state election, with Labor trailing the Coalition 52-48 in the polls.

To win back voters, the Queensland Government needs to address several key issues: the cost-of-living crisis, housing, crime and the increasing cost of the Brisbane Olympics.

The Incoming Premier:

Originally a member of the Right faction, Miles defected to the Left after failing to gain support for preselection in 2009. He unsuccessfully ran for the seat of Ryan in the 2010 Federal Election.

In 2014, Miles defeated Fiona McNamara for preselection in the seat of Mount Coot-tha’s. He went on to win the seat in the 2015 state election, where he was immediately elevated to the role of Minister for the Environment, Heritage Protection, National Parks, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Following the 2017 electoral redistribution, Miles was elected in the seat of Murrumba and named Minister for Health and Ambulance Services in the second Palaszczuk Ministry.

During the early COVID-19 pandemic, he was the first state minister to declare a public health emergency in January 2020, and earned a reputation as the Premier’s “attack dog” after he filmed himself ripping up a $30 million dollar invoice from the NSW Government for the cost of quarantining Queenslanders.

Miles became Deputy Premier in May 2020, following Jackie Trad’s resignation, and retained his health ministry role until October 2020. Afterwards, he was appointed Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government, and Planning in the third Palaszczuk Ministry.

In 2021, Miles again made headlines after he appeared to call then Prime Minister Scott Morrison an offensive term in a speech addressing a union rally. Miles claimed it was an accidental stutter.  Scott Morrison accepted the explanation, telling Cairns radio 4CA at the time: “he has a habit of carrying on like a bit of an idiot”.

While Miles nervous demeanour in early press conferences earned him the nickname “Giggles” amongst the media, the new Premier has a serious task ahead of him.

When recently addressing the media late last year, incoming Premier Steven Miles acknowledged his “underdog” status, and signalled a new focus on cost-of-living, with a freeze on car registrations:

“What I intend to demonstrate to Queenslanders between now and then is just what kind of Premier I would be: absolutely focused on them, their safety, their cost of living, and the issues that are important to them.”

The New Queensland Government:

Prior to Christmas 2023, Premier Steven Miles announced five new ministers, and five assistant ministers would be brought into Cabinet, in the largest reshuffle in nine years of the Queensland Labor Government. Lance McCallum, Nikki Boyd, Bart Mellish, Michael Healy, and Charis Mullen will join the cabinet as first-time ministers:

“They are younger, they are energetic, they are ready to deliver a fresh approach for Queenslanders” – Premier of Queensland, the Hon Steven Miles

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon has gained three new responsibilities to tackle the housing crisis, becoming Housing, Planning, Local Government and Public Works Minister, with Miles’ former State Development, Infrastructure, Planning and Local Government portfolio which has been broken up to create the housing super-portfolio.

Relegated members Mark Bailey, Stirling Hinchliffe and Craig Crawford have lost the transport, tourism and child safety ministerial portfolios respectively.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer has added Education to her responsibilities, Police Minister Mark Ryan picked up the additional responsibility of Community Safety, and Mick De Brenni’s Energy Department has added climate to their title, reflecting the Federal Government’s department.

Previous Education Minister Grace Grace retained the Industrial Relations and Racing portfolios and also took on State Development. There is no dedicated Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, however Grace Grace has assumed responsibility for the Games under her portfolio.

Queensland Ministry:

Minister Portfolio

Hon. Steven Miles MP

Premier

Hon. Cameron Dick MP

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment

Hon. Grace Grace MP

Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing

Hon. Shannon Fentiman MP

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women

Hon. Yvette D’ath MP

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

Hon. Michael De Brenni MP

Minister for Clean Economy and Jobs

Hon. Meaghan Scanlon MP

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works

Hon. Mark Ryan MP

Minister for Police and Community Safety

Hon. Leeanne Enoch MP

Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts

Hon. Dianne Farmer MP

Minister for Education and Minister for Youth Justice

Hon. Mark Furner MP

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities

Hon. Glenn Butcher MP

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water

Hon. Scott Stewart MP

Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals

Hon. Leanne Linard MP

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Innovation

Hon. Nikki Boyd MP

Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services

Hon. Bart Mellish MP

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services

Hon. Lance McCallum MP

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development

Hon. Charis Mullen MP

Minister for Child Safety, Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Hon. Michael Healy MP

Minister for Tourism and Sport

Assistant Minister Portfolio

Bruce Saunders

Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development, and Jobs.

Julieanne Gilbert

Assistant Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Industrial Relations and Racing

Brittany Lauga

Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure

Ali King

Assistant Minister for Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works

Jennifer Howard

Assistant Minister for Treasury, Trade and Investment

Shane King

Assistant Minister for Clean Energy Jobs

Corrine McMillan

Assistant Minister for Education and Youth Justice

James Sullivan

Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans Affairs