Queensland Labor Leans on ‘Right-Wing’ Label to Undermine Premier

From pastries to policies, nothing is sacred as former premier starts an early fight to reclaim his ground.

Queensland former Labor Premier Steven Miles (left) and Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli (right) at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia on Oct. 16, 2024. AAP Image/Darren England

Do Queenslanders prefer freshly-baked cookies, or a tray of date slices?

At first glance, it looks like a war over pastry preferences, yet it’s not the latest reality cooking show on display, but a concerted effort by Labor Premier Steven Miles to frame public opinion against the current government.

It has been one year since Miles lost his government to Liberal National Party (LNP) Leader David Crisafulli.

Since then, in a series of videos on social media, Miles has taken aim at Crisafulli for pursuing “culture wars” issues.

“Dig a little deeper beyond the date slices and the slick grabs on TV, and David Crisafulli’s true colours are on show and they’re not ’maroon,'” said Miles, who has been known to post about baking himself on more than one occasion.

Maroon is Queensland’s accepted state colour, but Miles has been critical of Crisafulli swapping some official iconography to blue, in line with the LNP—a veiled attempt to paint the premier as hiding his true colours.

In the same post, Miles accused the premier of being linked to conservative-leaning groups including Advance Australia, Australians for Prosperity, the Australian Christian Lobby, and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

“You’ve probably never heard of names before but chances are they’ve spammed you,” he said.

“They’re right-wing groups who collectively spent millions trying to influence the vote at the recent federal election.

“Their goal is to tear apart policies like reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and net zero and line the pockets of their wealthy donors.”

Miles has also tried to paint the premier as being “right-wing.”

“Now David Crisafulli, he wants you to see him as a moderate fellow, someone who won’t rock the boat,” Miles said.

“But what he doesn’t want you to know is that he’s actually far from it.

“Because away from the cameras and the scrutiny of the public he described those same groups, as well as right-wing parties, like One Nation, as ‘well-meaning.’”

In an earlier video, Miles accused Crisafulli of “gagging” his party by not allowing future changes to abortion laws and condemning the party for not being conducive to further abortion reform in the state.

Under current Queensland law, abortion is accessible for pregnancies up to 22 weeks’ gestation, with abortion possible after that point if at least two doctors agree it should proceed.

Premier Says Miles Trying to Retain Leadership

A spokesperson for Premier Crisafulli told The Epoch Times that Miles was trying to retain the opposition leadership.

“Queenslanders have seen through Steven Miles and his scare campaigns on social media,” he said.

“The opposition leader is desperately trying to cling onto his leadership, which is only hanging by a thread.”

Another election is not due in Queensland until 2028.

In 2024, the LNP, led by Crisafulli, won a majority in the state parliament, securing 52 seats, ending almost a decade of Labor governance.

Why It Matters

Labor’s crushing defeat in 2024 has left the opposition leader with the task of regrouping and regathering support.

Queensland also has a unique pattern in its voting history.

Since 1995, Labor has held power the majority of the time, but the change of power has often been by landslide from the Beattie–Bligh Labor era to Campbell Newman’s short-lived LNP rule, then back to Annastacia Palaszczuk and Miles’ nine-year reign, and now Crisafulli’s turn at the helm.