Steven Miles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Steven Miles MP
Official portrait, 2023
Leader of the Opposition in Queensland
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 October 2024
Premier	David Crisafulli
Deputy	Cameron Dick
Preceded by	David Crisafulli
40th Premier of Queensland
In office 15 December 2023 – 28 October 2024
Monarch	Charles III
Governor	Jeannette Young
Deputy	Cameron Dick
Preceded by	Annastacia Palaszczuk
Succeeded by	David Crisafulli
Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 December 2023
Deputy	Cameron Dick
Preceded by	Annastacia Palaszczuk
Deputy Premier of Queensland
In office 11 May 2020 – 15 December 2023
Premier	Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by	Jackie Trad
Succeeded by	Cameron Dick
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office 11 May 2020 – 15 December 2023
Leader	Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded by	Jackie Trad
Succeeded by	Cameron Dick
Ministerial positions Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning In office 13 November 2020 – 18 December 2023 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Himself Preceded by Kate Jones (State Development) Cameron Dick (Infrastructure and Planning) Stirling Hinchliffe (Local Government) Succeeded by Grace Grace (as Minister for State Development and Infrastructure) Meaghan Scanlon (as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government) Minister for Health and Ambulance Services In office 12 December 2017 – 12 November 2020 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Preceded by Cameron Dick Succeeded by Yvette D'Ath Minister for National Parks, The Great Barrier Reef and Environment and Heritage Protection In office 16 February 2015 – 11 December 2017 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Preceded by Andrew Powell (Environment and Heritage Protection) Steve Dickson (National Parks) Succeeded by Leeanne Enoch
Parliamentary offices Member of the Legislative Assembly Incumbent Assumed office 25 November 2017 Preceded by Chris Whiting Constituency Murrumba In office 31 January 2015 – 25 November 2017 Preceded by Saxon Rice Succeeded by Seat abolished Constituency Mount Coot-tha
Personal details
Born	(1977-11-15) 15 November 1977 (age 47) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Kim McDowell
Children	3
Residences	Mango Hill, Queensland, Australia
Alma mater	University of Queensland (PhD)
Signature

Steven John Miles (born 15 November 1977) is an Australian politician. He was the 40th Premier of Queensland, serving for 10 months from December 2023 to October 2024. He is currently the leader of the Labor Party in Queensland. Before becoming Premier, he was the Deputy Premier from 2020 to 2023.

Steven Miles was born in Brisbane. He studied at the University of Queensland, where he earned a PhD. Before he became a politician, he worked for a trade union and as an adviser. He was first elected to the Queensland Parliament in 2015. He represented the area of Mount Coot-tha and later Murrumba.

After the 2015 election, Miles became a minister in the government. In 2020, he became Deputy Premier. He took over as Labor leader and Premier in December 2023 after Annastacia Palaszczuk retired. Miles led his government into the 2024 state election. His party was defeated by the Liberal National Party, led by David Crisafulli.

Early Life and Education

Steven Miles was born in Brisbane in 1977. His father worked at a food processing factory. His mother was an inspector for workplace safety. He went to Petrie State School and St Paul's Anglican School, Bald Hills.

He then studied at the University of Queensland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a PhD. His PhD research was about how trade unions in Australia help workers. Before entering parliament, he also worked as an adviser to a state treasurer. He was also a director for a public sector union.

Political Journey

Miles was first elected to the state parliament in 2015. He represented the area of Mount Coot-tha. On 16 February 2015, he became the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection. He was also the Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef.

As Environment Minister, Miles started Queensland's first container deposit scheme. This program helps people recycle cans and bottles. It began in 2018.

Miles in 2017 with Papua New Guinean tourism minister Tobias Kulang

After a change in electoral boundaries, Miles ran for the area of Murrumba in the 2017 state election. He won this seat. After the election, he became the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services. He was the health minister during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. In January 2020, he declared a public health emergency. This was the first time an Australian state had done this.

In May 2020, Miles became the Deputy Premier of Queensland. This happened after the previous Deputy Premier, Jackie Trad, resigned. He continued as Health Minister until the 2020 state election. After that election, he became the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government, and Planning.

Premier of Queensland

In December 2023, Annastacia Palaszczuk resigned as Premier. Steven Miles announced he would try to become the new Premier and Labor Party leader. He was elected without anyone opposing him on 15 December 2023. He was sworn in as Premier on the same day.

As Premier, Miles focused on several key areas. These included helping with the cost of living, setting stronger climate targets, and reducing youth crime.

Helping with Cost of Living

The Miles Government introduced plans in 2024 to help people with the cost of living. These plans included:

• Fifty-cent fares for public transport across Queensland. This trial began on 5 August 2024. It aimed to save money for commuters and reduce traffic. By September 2024, more people were using public transport than before the pandemic.
• A $1000 electricity rebate for all Queensland homes. This was in addition to a $300 rebate from the federal government.
• A 20 percent reduction in vehicle registration fees for 12 months.
• $200 vouchers for families with children aged 5–17. These vouchers helped with the cost of joining sports clubs and activities.

These measures were paid for by money from coal royalties. The Miles Government also passed laws to protect these royalties. In August 2024, Miles also announced plans to lower petrol prices. This included creating state-owned fuel stations.

Environment and Climate Action

Queensland reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent in 2022. This was better than the government's goal of a 30 percent reduction by 2030. In 2024, the Miles Government passed new laws. These laws set stronger targets for reducing emissions. The goal is a 75 percent reduction by 2035 and net zero by 2050.

The laws also set renewable energy targets for Queensland. These targets are 50 percent by 2030, 70 percent by 2032, and 80 percent by 2035. The government also promised to invest $26 billion over four years in renewable energy projects. This includes money for new power sources and ways to store energy.

The Miles Government also expanded environmental protection in Queensland. They banned carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin. They also protected an additional 59,000 hectares of land. This included creating two new national parks and expanding 18 existing ones. They also added 140 islands within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to protected areas.

Housing and Support for Homelessness

In 2024, Miles announced a $3.1 billion plan called 'Homes for Queenslanders'. The goal is to build one million new homes by 2046. This includes 53,000 new social homes. As part of this plan, the government passed new laws to protect the rights of people who rent homes. These laws stopped real estate agents from asking for higher rent bids. They also created a system to easily transfer bond money from one property to another.

Miles also announced that all special homelessness services in Queensland would receive a 20 percent increase in funding. The Miles Government also removed stamp duty (a tax) for first-time homebuyers on properties valued up to $700,000.

2024 State Election

In the 2024 Queensland state election, the Labor Party lost to the Liberal National Party (LNP). Miles conceded the election the day after the vote. According to Labor Party rules, the defeat meant there would be a new leadership vote. Miles was re-elected as Labor leader without anyone opposing him. This made him the Leader of the Opposition.

Personal Life

Steven Miles has three children with his wife, Kim McDowell. He supports the Brisbane Broncos, a rugby league team.