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Queensland's new hope: How does Miles plan to deal with the cost of living crisis?
As the cost of living crisis intensifies, Queensland's new Premier Steven Miles is determined to tackle the challenge head-on. Early in his term, Miles announced a series of measures to address the rising cost of living and aim to help families better cope with their daily expenses.
“Our goal is to enable every Queenslander to enjoy more reasonable living conditions. This is our responsibility as a government.”
Since early 2024, Miles' government has begun a trial of affordable 50-minute public transport fares, a key policy under his administration. The measure aims to ease the burden on commuters and encourage greater reliance on public transport systems. The strategy has popular support, with public transport ridership growing above pre-pandemic levels, according to early data.
"By reducing transport costs we hope to improve Queensland's quality of life and reduce traffic congestion."
Miles has also made a major commitment to social housing. His "Queenslanders Housing Plan" aims to build 1 million homes by 2046, including 53,000 social homes. In this plan, the government will carry out rent reforms based on market conditions and cancel stamp duty for first-time home buyers, which shows their determination to reduce the housing affordability of families.
Additionally, the Miles Government has also delivered major power bill relief, providing all Queensland households with an extra $1000 in power bill subsidies, which has received further support in the federal budget. These measures are based on growth in Queensland's coal concession revenue, allowing the government to maintain this relief policy in the longer term.
“This is not just about money, it’s about fighting for the quality of life for every family.”
Miles also plans to further lower fuel prices by establishing state-owned gas stations to promote competition and protect consumers. One step is to limit gas stations to adjust prices only once a day. The goal of this policy is to make fuel price fluctuations transparent and help people plan their daily expenses.
Facing the challenge of cost of living, another pursuit of Miles is sustainable development and environmental protection. Recently, the Queensland government has implemented a series of strong environmental legislation with the aim of achieving zero emissions by 2050 and increasing the use of renewable energy. This is not only a response to current environmental issues, but also a long-term strategy to attract relevant industry and jobs.
“Achieving sustainability is the top priority of the current government, and the future economy needs the support of environmental protection.”
However, it is worth noting that behind these policies, the challenges facing the Miles government go beyond the promotion of legislation and policy. In the upcoming 2024 general election, the effectiveness of these measures will directly affect voters' choices, especially when the voice of protest against the continued rise in the cost of living in society becomes louder and louder.
Ultimately, Miles' response to the cost of living crisis is not just a policy experiment, but a commitment to quality of life for people across Queensland. Whether this policy test can bring sustained hope to Queensland remains to be seen in future developments.
