Steven Miles Wins Queensland Premiership Race

Miles has won the race by default following a backroom deal.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young arrive at a press conference to give an update on Queensland COVID-19 Border Controls in Brisbane, Australia on June 30, 2020. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

A backroom factional deal has seen Deputy Premier Steven Miles win the Queensland premiership race by default after Health Minister Shannon Fentiman withdrew.

Ms Fentiman announced yesterday that she would contest the leadership, but confirmed her withdrawal in a statement this morning.

“It is clear that a majority of Labor members of parliament will support Steven Miles to be the next leader of the Labor party, and therefore the next premier of Queensland,” Ms. Fentiman said. “As a result, I will not be standing as a candidate for the Labor leadership when caucus meets on Friday.

“Steven is a longstanding friend, and he will have my full support as premier of Queensland.”