In a stunning upset that has reshaped Queensland’s political landscape, David Crisafulli and the Liberal National Party have emerged victorious in the 2024 state election, bringing an end to Labor’s decade-long reign. The hotly contested campaign, which saw Crisafulli relentlessly pushing a hardline stance on youth crime, culminated in a narrow but decisive win for the LNP.
Speaking to jubilant supporters at Brisbane’s W Hotel, Crisafulli declared, “Today, Queenslanders voted for hope over fear. Elections are about doing good for those who don’t have a voice. Tonight was the turning point of the youth crime crisis.” He vowed that by Christmas, his controversial “adult crime, adult time” policy would become law, underscoring his commitment to cracking down on juvenile offenders.
A Disciplined Opposition Breaks Labor’s Stronghold
When Crisafulli took the reins of the LNP after its resounding defeat in 2020, he inherited a fractured and directionless opposition. However, over the past four years, he has managed to unite the party’s disparate factions—moderates, conservatives, and right-wing Christians—and maintain a disciplined front. This cohesion proved crucial in the LNP’s ability to break Labor’s century-long grip on heartland seats in central Queensland.
Targeting Youth Crime: A Winning Strategy?
The centerpiece of Crisafulli’s campaign was his relentless focus on what he dubbed Queensland’s “youth crime crisis.” In addition to his controversial plan to allow children to be sentenced as adults, the LNP leader has pledged to overhaul the Youth Justice Act and reform the detention system. While these proposals resonated with voters concerned about public safety, experts have cautioned that many of Crisafulli’s policies lack evidentiary support.
“We govern with humility and decency and vision and tenacity, and in doing so, we get the opportunity to govern for longer,” Crisafulli told supporters, signaling his intention to break the LNP’s long drought of successive terms in office.
Miles Gracious in Defeat
For outgoing Premier Steven Miles, who had held Queensland’s top job for just 10 months following Annastacia Palaszczuk’s retirement, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. However, in his concession speech, Miles struck a gracious tone, saying, “Being Queensland’s premier has been the greatest honour of my life. I have no regrets about the campaign or the last 10 months.”
Despite Labor’s efforts to highlight divisions within LNP ranks over issues like abortion and nuclear power, Crisafulli dismissed these as mere “scare tactics” and insisted, “This isn’t America. We don’t pander to extremes.” The premier-elect’s ability to sidestep these potential landmines and keep his party focused on law and order appears to have paid off at the ballot box.
A New Era for the Sunshine State
As the dust settles on this historic election, attention now turns to how Crisafulli will govern and whether he can deliver on his ambitious crime-fighting agenda. With the LNP poised to secure a razor-thin majority, the new premier will need to navigate a delicate balance between appeasing his base and reaching across the aisle to build consensus.
For Queensland, the 2024 election marks the dawn of a new political era—one that will be shaped by Crisafulli’s vision and the LNP’s ability to tackle the complex challenges facing the Sunshine State. As the premier-elect noted in his victory speech, “Elections are about people and doing good for those who don’t have a voice.” In the coming months and years, Queenslanders will be watching closely to see if Crisafulli can live up to that lofty promise.
