Premier pumps up transport vision ahead of election

Fuel prices will be capped to five cent a litre increases per day under a Queensland election plan. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

Queensland's premier has made another bold cost-of-living pitch to voters, promising to establish state-owned petrol stations and capped fuel price rises.

Steven Miles says he and his opponent, Liberal-National leader David Crisafulli, differ in many ways but the key one is vision.

"He wants to be a small target, I want to outline a big vision," Mr Miles said during his first State of the State address on Tuesday.

"In October, Queenslanders will have a choice ... between my clear and detailed vision for Queensland and an opposition who are unknown and are determined to stay that way."

Queensland Premier Steven Miles
Queensland Premier Steven Miles detailed his election vision during the State of the State address.

The premier's "unashamedly ambitious vision" includes capping daily fuel price rises to five cents and mandated online notifications of any increases if his government retains power in October.

"There is no need for fuel prices to be jumping around all day and for retailers to only notify consumers after it has happened," he said.

Government owned fuel stations - operated by Energy Queensland on a cost recovery basis - will sell diesel, petrol, electric vehicle chargers and potentially have convenience stores to sell food but no cigarettes.

The state's opposition said the initiative is a misguided and "harebrained idea" which will only drive up petrol prices.

"This is a level of desperation I thought I'd never see from any government in Queensland," Mr Crisafulli said.

"When the state government can't deliver the services it's responsible for, it now wants to deliver service stations ... it's fanciful."

Western Australia has legislation to limit fuel price rises and Queensland would have to introduce laws to do the same.

Industry body RACQ welcomed the pricing initiative and flagged the model was working well in Perth to change the duration of the fuel price cycle.

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli labelled the Miles government's fuel initiative as "misguided".

"We are confident that if we can lessen the impact of the fuel cycle, if we can shorten the duration of the fuel cycle and encourage greater competition, that people will pay less for their fuel than they currently pay," chief executive David Carter told reporters.

The RACQ is yet to put forward their position on the government's state-owned fuel station proposal, claiming it requires more analysis.

A service station body warned the state-owned stations will not "shift the dial" on petrol prices.

"Tax-payer funded entry into the competitive, low-margin fuel market is a bold and risky use of Queensland taxpayer fund," Australian Convenience and Petroleum Markets Association CEO Mark McKenzie said.

"Why stop at service stations? Why not car insurance, home insurance and supermarkets."

The National Retail Association warned the state-owned fuel stations will not be a "silver bullet" for the large state and raised concerns it will push independent stores out of the market by taxpayer-funded competition.

Other election commitments on Tuesday included the plan to create an Independent Transport Authority to move Translink - responsible for ferries, buses and trains - out of the Department of Transport and Main Roads into having its own board and CEO.

A traffic management centre would also be set up to oversee all public transport and road infrastructure in one place.

Mr Miles' government will also guarantee at least 50 per cent of road funding will be outside Brisbane meaning major thoroughfares like the Bruce Highway will receive $250 million per year from 2027 - an increase of $50 million.

In a bid to sway voters ahead of October where polls suggest the LNP will succeed, the Miles government has budgeted multiple cost-of-living tailored packages including $1000 energy rebates to every household and 20 per cent off car registration.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store