Steven Miles has made a major cost of living pledge to Queenslanders after a deal was brokered between union heavyweights to back him in as the next Premier during late-night discussions.
Mr Miles said he would put car registration bills on hold from July 1 2024 for a one-year period to ease cost pressures for families.
“Today we are announcing that we will freeze car rego for the next year,” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
“Ensuring Queensland families don’t have increased car registration bills. We know that for many families rego is one of the biggest bills of the year.”
Mr Miles also announced that he had asked Treasurer Cameron Dick to be his deputy ahead of the all-important Labor caucus meeting on Friday,
“Cameron has been a strong treasurer,” Mr Miles said.
“We have worked together to deliver a state economy, a strong state economy that is delivering for Queenslanders.”
It has been reported Australian Workers Union and Right faction MPs agreed to back Mr Miles which followed a deal with United Workers Union and power broker Garry Bullock.
According to The Courier Mail, “messy” discussions went on until about 10pm on Monday but they eventually came to an agreement to back the current Deputy Premier.
It is understood Labor members wanted to come to a consensus rather than have speculation of who will be Sunshine State’s next leader leading up to Friday’s ballot.
A Right faction MP said: “We all agreed this was the best path forward”.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman had put her hand up for the race to take the seat that will be vacated by Annastacia Palaszczuk who resigned on Sunday.
She confirmed on Facebook just before 9am on Tuesday that a majority of Labor Members will support Mr Miles as the next Labor leader of Queensland.
“As a result, I will not be standing as a candidate for the Labor leadership when Caucus meets on Friday,” she wrote, congratulating the incoming Premier.
Ms Fentiman also pledged to support Mr Miles as the next Queensland leader, describing him as a “longstanding friend”.
“Now is the time for unity, and Labor’s focus must turn to delivering for Queenslanders and retaining government at next year’s election,” she continued.
“There is so much at stake for our great state, and Queenslanders cannot afford an LNP Government of cuts and chaos. I will continue working tirelessly to ensure the return of a Labor Government for Queenslanders.”
(SKY NEWS)
