Steven Miles Explained

Steven Miles
Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office:40th Premier of Queensland
Governor:Jeannette Young
Deputy:Cameron Dick
Term Start:15 December 2023
Predecessor:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Office1:Deputy Premier of Queensland
Premier1:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Term Start1:11 May 2020
Term End1:15 December 2023
Predecessor1:Jackie Trad
Successor1:Cameron Dick
Office2:Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
Deputy2:Cameron Dick
Term Start2:15 December 2023
Predecessor2:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Office3:Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
Term Start3:11 May 2020
Term End3:15 December 2023
Leader3:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Predecessor3:Jackie Trad
Successor3:Cameron Dick
Office4:Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Term Start4:13 November 2020
Term End4:18 December 2023
Premier4:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Himself
Predecessor4:Kate Jones (State Development)
Cameron Dick (Infrastructure and Planning)
Stirling Hinchliffe (Local Government)
Successor4:Grace Grace (as Minister for State Development and Infrastructure)
Meaghan Scanlon (as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government)
Office5:Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
Term Start5:12 December 2017
Term End5:12 November 2020
Premier5:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Predecessor5:Cameron Dick
Successor5:Yvette D'Ath
Office6:Minister for National Parks, The Great Barrier Reef and Environment and Heritage Protection
Term Start6:16 February 2015
Term End6:11 December 2017
Premier6:Annastacia Palaszczuk
Predecessor6:Andrew Powell (Environment and Heritage Protection)
Steve Dickson (National Parks)
Successor6:Leeanne Enoch
Office7:Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Murrumba
Term Start7:25 November 2017
Predecessor7:Chris Whiting
Office8:Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Mount Coot-tha
Term Start8:31 January 2015
Term End8:25 November 2017
Predecessor8:Saxon Rice
Successor8:Seat abolished
Birth Date:1977 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Party:Labor
Spouse:Kim McDowell
Children:3
Residence:Mango Hill, Queensland, Australia[1]
Signature:Steven Miles signature 2018.svg

Steven John Miles (born 15 November 1977) is an Australian politician who is the 40th and current premier of Queensland, in office since 2023. He is the state leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and previously served as deputy premier from 2020 to 2023.

Miles was born in Brisbane and completed a PhD on the trade union movement at the University of Queensland. Prior to entering parliament he worked as a union official, political adviser, and public relations consultant. He was elected to parliament at the 2015 Queensland state election, initially representing the seat of Mount Coot-tha before switching to Murrumba at the 2017 election. Miles was appointed to state cabinet after the 2015 election victory and replaced Jackie Trad as Annastacia Palaszczuk's deputy in 2020. He succeeded Palaszcuk as ALP leader and premier unopposed following her retirement in December 2023.

Early life

Miles was born in Brisbane on 15 November 1977. He attended Petrie State School and completed his secondary education at St Paul's Anglican School, Bald Hills.[2] He went on to complete the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Queensland.[3] Miles' PhD thesis was titled "Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement".[4]

Miles was a co-founder and managing director of Reveille Strategy, a public relations agency working with progressive organisations to "mobilise for campaigns and trumpet their message to the community".[5] Prior to his election to parliament he also worked as an adviser to state treasurer Andrew Fraser and as industrial relations director of state public sector union Together.[6] [7]

Political career

Miles was initially a member of the Labor Right faction, but switched to Labor Left after he failed to win a preselection ballot for the seat of Pine Rivers prior to the 2009 Queensland state election. He was the unsuccessful Labor candidate for Ryan at the 2010 Australian federal election.[8]

In 2014, Miles defeated Fiona McNamara for preselection in the state seat of Mount Coot-tha,[9] and was elected in the 2015 state election.[10] He was sworn in as Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef in the First Palaszczuk ministry on 16 February 2015.[11] [12]

Following an electoral redistribution in 2017,[13] Miles stood for the North Brisbane electorate of Murrumba[14] and was elected in the 2017 state election. He was appointed and sworn in as the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services in the Second Palaszczuk ministry after the election.[2] He was health minister for the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and in January 2020 declared a public health emergency, the first such declaration by an Australian state.[15]

On 10 May 2020, Miles was announced as the new Deputy Premier of Queensland and was sworn in the following day, following the resignation of the previous Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.[16] He continued to be Minister for Health and Ambulance Services until the state election in October 2020, after which he was appointed the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning in the Third Palaszczuk ministry.[2]

Premier of Queensland

See also: Miles ministry and 2023 Queensland Labor Party leadership election. In December 2023, following Palaszczuk's resignation, Miles announced he would be a candidate to succeed her as state premier and ALP leader in Queensland. It was reported that he was aligned with the dominant left faction and enjoyed the support of the United Workers Union.[17] He was initially opposed for the leadership by Shannon Fentiman, but Fentiman subsequently withdrew after a deal was struck between Miles and Cameron Dick of the right faction in which Dick would become deputy premier.[18] He was elected unopposed on 15 December 2023 and sworn in as premier on the same day.[19]

Personal life

Miles has three children with his wife Kim McDowell.[20] Miles supports the Brisbane Broncos.[21]

Notes and References

  1. News: Lynch . Lydia . 11 May 2020 . Queensland has a new deputy premier and treasurer: who are they? . . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201623/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/queensland-has-a-new-deputy-premier-and-treasurer-who-are-they-20200511-p54rrp.html . live .
  2. News: Hon Dr Steven Miles. Parliament of Queensland. 11 December 2023. 7 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207171946/https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Members/Current-Members/Member-List/Member-Details?id=2137961166. live.
  3. Web site: Our Minister. 29 July 2017. QLD Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622105621/http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/about/organisation/minister.html. 22 June 2017. live. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement "Trade Union Renewal in Australia: rebuilding worker involvement". 2 May 2021. University of Queensland. 3 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210503073414/https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:253447. live.
  5. News: Environment law and policy tracker. Footprint News. 16 February 2015. 11 December 2023. 11 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211144021/https://www.footprintnews.com.au/news/52777?print=1. live.
  6. News: Microsoft serves up for Labor. Turner. Adam. 26 February 2008. Sydney Morning Herald. 16 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180915042442/https://amp.smh.com.au/business/microsoft-serves-up-for-labor-20080226-gds2tm.html. 15 September 2018. live. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Hon Dr Steven Miles. Members Details. Queensland Parliament. https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101848/http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/current/list/MemberDetails?ID=9522482. 24 August 2018. live. 16 September 2018. dmy-all.
  8. News: Mount Coot-tha Results. 2 February 2015. ABC. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203050224/http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/guide/mcoo/. 3 February 2015. live. dmy-all.
  9. News: OPINION: Paramedics fear the worst as crystal meth tightens grip on Queenslanders. 2 February 2015. The Courier Mail. 12 April 2014.
  10. Web site: Mount Coot-tha. Queensland Election 2015. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Green. Antony. Antony Green. 1 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203050224/http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/guide/mcoo/. 3 February 2015. live. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Queensland's new Labor Cabinet sworn in at Government House. 15 February 2015. Australian Broadcasting Corporation 16 February 2015. 16 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150222062044/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-16/new-queensland-cabinet-sworn-in-government-house/6114916?WT.ac=statenews_qld. 22 February 2015. live. dmy-all.
  12. News: Introducing the new Environment Minister. 22 February 2015. 612 ABC Brisbane. 18 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150223024149/http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2015/02/introducing-the-new-environment-minister-.html#.VOpqPpzBY0c.twitter. 23 February 2015. live. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Proposal for the Redistribution of the State's Electoral Districts. February 2017. Electoral Commission of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20170228082329/http://boundaries.ecq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/66276/QRC-Proposal-for-the-Redistribution-of-the-State_Optimised-Version.pdf. 28 February 2017. live. 27 February 2017. dmy-all.
  14. News: 'I was gutted': Miles confirms boundary reshuffle forcing move to Murrumba. 27 February 2017. ABC News. 27 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170227074613/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-27/steven-miles-gutted-at-boundary-reshuffle-confirms-murrumba/8308008. 27 February 2017. live. en-AU. dmy-all.
  15. News: Miles uncensored: Resurfaced interview gives rare insight into how 'Giggles' became Premier-in-waiting. 9 October 2020. 12 December 2023. Leisa. Scott. The Courier-Mail. 12 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231212000757/https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/qweekend/miles-uncensored-how-giggles-became-premierinwaiting/news-story/36b2e62cb94655132f66b9563dd2931d. live.
  16. News: Jackie Trad resigns as Queensland's Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Steven Miles and Cameron Dick to take on portfolios. 10 May 2019. ABC News. 11 May 2018. en-AU. dmy-all. 10 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200510090026/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-10/queensland-premier-annastacia-palaszczuk-responds-to-jackie-trad/12231616. live.
  17. News: Annastacia Palaszczuk's anointed successor, Steven Miles, likely to face challenge, say Queensland Labor MPs. Guardian Australia. 11 December 2023. 10 December 2023. 10 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231210123636/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/10/who-will-replace-annastacia-palaszczuk-three-contenders-as-queensland-labor-picks-next-premier. live.
  18. News: 2023-12-11 . Steven Miles to replace Annastacia Palaszczuk as Queensland premier . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-12-11 . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211230428/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-12/steven-miles-premier-of-queensland-shannon-fentiman-withdraws/103214566 . live .
  19. News: Steven Miles elected unopposed by Labor MPs as Queensland's new premier with Cameron Dick the deputy premier. ABC News. 15 December 2023. 15 December 2023. 15 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215011633/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-15/labor-caucus-endorses-steven-miles-as-queensland-premier/103227896. live.
  20. News: Steven Miles's first interview since elevation to Deputy Premier. The Courier-Mail. 16 May 2020. 11 December 2023. 11 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211145724/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-government/steven-miless-first-interview-since-elevation-to-deputy-premier/news-story/89fc1a775720ac8820fe1475e069e6b9. live.
  21. News: Smee . Ben . He's a PhD scholar and Al Gore alumnus, but Steven Miles' march to power began in the outer suburbs . The Guardian . 15 December 2023 . 16 December 2023 . 15 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215230722/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/16/hes-a-phd-scholar-and-al-gore-alumnus-but-steven-miles-march-to-power-began-in-the-outer-suburbs . live .