00:00Opposition Leader Stephen Miles, thanks for joining me.
00:05Thanks for having me, Jack.
00:06It's great to be here.
00:07It's been a year since Labor lost that election in 2024.
00:11What was it like losing that election?
00:13What was it like losing the top job as Premier?
00:15Look, defeat is obviously always really hard,
00:19but we didn't have too much time to dwell on it.
00:22We were straight back into the job of talking to Queenslanders
00:26and that's what we've done the whole 12 months since then.
00:29It was beaten convincingly in 2024.
00:31Why did you decide to stay on as Labor leader?
00:34Look, a number of members of our team asked me to stay on
00:37because they thought that that continuity would help keep our team
00:41united and strong and disciplined.
00:43And I've always taken the view that if you want to make a difference
00:47for your state, you serve in whatever capacity you have the opportunity to do.
00:51And so I agreed to that request.
00:53Why do you think Labor lost the last election?
00:56Look, that's what we've spent the last 12 months
00:58talking to Queenslanders about right across the state.
01:01And a lot of people have said that they felt like it was time for a change.
01:05A lot of people have pointed to crime and community safety as the issue
01:09that drove them to change their vote to the LNP.
01:13But also a lot of people believed what David Christofili said,
01:16that he would make Queensland a better place.
01:18And I think we're already starting to see a bit of disappointment from Queenslanders
01:22when things actually are getting worse.
01:24You know, ramping is getting worse.
01:26Cost of living is getting worse.
01:28Even crime hasn't been fixed in the way he said it would.
01:31Would a future Labor government keep the adult crime,
01:33adult time laws introduced by the LNP?
01:36Well, look, our offering at the 2028 election will outline much closer to then.
01:41But what we've seen is a government that was elected with a forward slogan
01:45and not much more detail.
01:47And so even though they've passed those laws and had to change them
01:50a couple of times, a couple of times already,
01:53Queenslanders are still seeing very high crime rates.
01:56And that suggests that that forward slogan isn't working
02:00and this government will need to do more.
02:01What would convince you to keep adult crime, adult time laws?
02:04We want to see crime going down.
02:06And if crime is going down, then we'll want to keep in place
02:10the things that the experts and police tell us are working.
02:13We'll want to change the things that experts and police tell us are not working.
02:17I think right now there isn't enough focus on early intervention
02:21and rehabilitation and keeping kids in school
02:24rather than seeing them disengaged and out in the community committing crimes.
02:29And so we'll have a bigger focus on stopping crime before it happens.
02:33Do you think keeping youth offenders in detention in jail for longer
02:37helps with community safety?
02:39Well, it helps in the short term while those kids are off the streets,
02:42but eventually they will get released.
02:44And there's lots of evidence that says that the period of time
02:47that they're in detention hardens them,
02:50makes them more likely to commit more crimes.
02:52But it's early days and we'll see what the experience is
02:55over the next couple of years.
02:56You're on social media a lot, you're on TikTok a lot.
02:59Why do you like reaching out to young Queensland voters
03:01and do you think that they feel left out of the political process?
03:04Well, I like reaching out to all voters, Jack,
03:07and I've always believed that politicians have a responsibility
03:10to talk to Queenslanders where they are.
03:13A lot of young people say to me that they don't feel particularly heard
03:17in the debates of the day and I want to change that.
03:21I want to give them a stronger voice.
03:23I want to hear them and speak with them.
03:26The UK has recently lowered the voting age from 18 to 16.
03:30Would a state Labor government ever do that here in Queensland?
03:33We don't have plans to do that,
03:35but I think it's good that people are talking about it.
03:37You know, those same young people who say to me
03:40that they don't feel heard appreciate the fact
03:43that there are people out there talking about maybe giving them a greater say.
03:47You'd be open to looking at lowering the voting age.
03:50I'm saying I think it's a good conversation.
03:52It's not part of our plan, so.
03:53And just to be clear, you're committed to leading Labor to the 2028 election?
03:57Oh, absolutely.
03:58The first test for any opposition is whether you can keep your team united and disciplined.
04:02We see at a federal level what can go wrong when you don't have that
04:06with the LNP opposition there.
04:09We've kept the team strong, united, disciplined
04:12and that's how we intend to continue right through to 2028.
04:15Is it really disciplined, though, when you've seen a divide
04:17within your caucus on adult crime, adult time laws?
04:19You've seen MPs switch factions.
04:22Are you really that united?
04:23We are, yeah.
04:24It's not unusual to occasionally have people who disagree.
04:27That's what you would expect with strong, robust people,
04:32the kinds of people who get themselves elected.
04:34I think the test of a good team is whether you can have those disagreements
04:39settle a position and move forward, and that's what we've done.
04:42And what would you say to people who might think you're a seat warmer as Labor leader?
04:47I think if people saw the work that I'm doing each and every day out in the community
04:53talking to Queenslanders, they'd see how committed I am to this,
04:57because I think it's in the best interest of the state.
04:59I think this government is not a very good government.
05:02I think they're letting people down.
05:03It's our job to highlight that.
05:05And then closer to 2028, outline what we would do differently.
05:08Voters convincingly booted you out as Premier in 2024.
05:12What makes you think they're going to want you back as Premier in 2028?
05:16Well, I think lots of people are already disappointed by this Christopher Lee government.
05:21He promised them a lot.
05:22I'm talking about you.
05:23What makes you think they're going to want you back in 2028?
05:25Well, they're the considerations people will make.
05:27They'll have a look at whether they are better off under this government than they were.
05:32And if they're not, they'll consider whether the opposition should be the government.
05:36My job is to make sure we do both those things.
05:38There's a hall in Parliament where the portraits of former premiers are hung.
05:42Have you sat for your portrait yet?
05:44I have not, no.
05:45When do you think you might do that?
05:47I'm not rushing.
05:48I didn't get into this game for portraits and statues, Jack.
05:51I'm concerned about delivering policies that change the state.
05:55And that's what I'll keep focusing on.
05:57I don't think you'll see a portrait of me any time soon.
05:59Stephen Miles, thanks for your time.
06:01Thank you, Jack. Great to see you.
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