A former Queensland Labor minister has called on Opposition Leader Steven Miles to prioritize restoring the state’s AA+ credit rating as a defining element of Labor’s economic platform ahead of the next state election. The move is seen as a potential strategy to distinguish Labor from the incumbent Liberal National Party (LNP), which currently faces criticism over escalating public debt.

Queensland’s credit rating was downgraded by S&P Global this month, moving from AA+ to AA with a stable outlook—the first downgrade in 17 years. The downgrade was attributed to a decade of substantial public sector spending initially undertaken by the previous Labor government and sustained by the LNP administration. Public debt in the state is projected to reach $216.4 billion by 2030, with annual interest expenses expected to exceed $10.7 billion.

While pressing for clearer economic policies from Mr. Miles, former Labor minister Kerry Shine emphasized the importance of pursuing debt reduction to win back voter confidence, particularly outside Brisbane. Shine highlighted the need for “a great deal of courage” to control spending, especially given public expectations for investment in health, education, and transport. He warned that although debt concerns were often downplayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing portion of the budget allocated to interest payments could undermine essential services in the future.

Mr. Miles has refrained from indicating specific plans to reduce state debt but criticized the LNP government’s spending decisions, including the $3.8 billion Olympic stadium project at Victoria Park and a proposed National Aquatic Centre. He expressed concern about the trajectory of government expenditure leading up to the next budget cycle in 2028 but stopped short of detailing precise fiscal targets.

LNP Treasurer David Janetzki has rejected calls to curtail borrowing or implement substantial fiscal reforms, maintaining the government’s commitment to ongoing investment.

Regional engagement and candidate selection have also become focal points within Labor in the lead-up to the election. After the party suffered significant losses in regional Queensland during the 2024 election—retaining only Cairns, Bundaberg, and Gladstone as regional strongholds—former ministers and party veterans have urged renewed efforts to appeal to voters outside Brisbane. Kerry Shine and Tony McGrady underscored the urgency of nominating candidates in key regional seats promptly to allow ample campaigning time.

Rob Schwarten, who served Rockhampton for over two decades, attributed delays in securing regional candidates to party administrative shortcomings rather than leadership deficiencies. He stressed the importance of grassroots campaigns focused on local solutions as key to regaining support in regional communities.

Labor has opened nominations for 57 seats it does not currently hold but has not yet announced a final deadline for preselections. The opposition faces mounting pressure to clarify its policy direction on economic management and regional representation as the next state election approaches.