Steven Miles

Academic turned Labor leader Steven Miles served as Queensland's 40th Premier for 10 months in 2023-24 before leading Labor to defeat against David Crisafulli's LNP. Born in Brisbane to a Golden Circle cannery fitter and workplace safety inspector, Miles earned a PhD on trade union renewal from UQ before co-founding political consultancy Reveille Strategy. Miles rose rapidly through Labor ranks, serving as Environment Minister (introducing the successful containers-for-change recycling scheme), Health Minister during COVID-19 (declaring Australia's first state public health emergency), and Deputy Premier before succeeding Annastacia Palaszczuk. As Premier, he introduced popular 50-cent public transport fares, $1000 electricity rebates, and ambitious renewable energy targets. Despite these policies, Labor lost the 2024 election on a 7% swing amid voter concerns about youth crime and cost-of-living pressures. Miles remains Labor leader in opposition.