Environment Minister to stand in Murrumba

Queensland's Environment Minister Steven Miles today (Monday) announced he will contest the next State election in the new outer-Brisbane seat of Murrumba.

Dr Miles – whose electorate of Mt Coot-tha disappears under new seats and boundaries proposed by the Redistribution Commission – said he had reached his decision after consulting with his wife Kim, supporters and senior Labor Party figures.

"I’ve spoken to the Premier, the Member for Kallangur and the Member for Murrumba about my intention to stand in the seat (of Murrumba) at the next election, and they have offered their support,” Dr Miles said.

“My wife and I have decided that I have more to do in politics.

“I have accepted the outcome of the independent commission, and I will be contesting the next election because I believe I have only just got started on the work that I want to do, on the things that drove me to get involved in politics.

“Having grown up in Petrie and attended high school in Bald Hills, this move means I will be able to continue the important work of the Palaszczuk Labor Government from my old stomping ground. In fact, I first ran for office in Division 8 for the old Pine Rivers Shire Council.

“I've spent the last two years unwinding the destructive policies of the Newman-Nicholls LNP government. 

“In a difficult Parliament, I've won next generation environment protection laws, a container deposit scheme, a ban on lightweight single-use plastic shopping bags, and I have passed new laws to protect groundwater.

“I fought hard for world leading tree clearing laws but was defeated by the LNP and Katter Party on the floor of the Parliament.

“Just last week, I hosted a Climate Action Roundtable in Cairns to discuss how political leaders can collaborate to reduce carbon greenhouse pollution, ahead of visiting bleaching damage to the Great Barrier Reef on Friday.

“Once a national leader on climate change, Queensland was left behind when other governments rapidly embraced the transition to a clean energy economy because the LNP systematically dismantled our forward-thinking policies.

“The Palaszczuk Government is revitalising climate change action. We’ve also committed $100 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef over five years and have increased surveillance of reef areas affected by coral bleaching,” Dr Miles said.

ENDS

MEDIA 0412 393 909