Steven Miles’ flood response key to Labor’s election hopes as many undecided on new Queensland premier

Queensland’s flood situation gives Steven Miles an opportunity to quickly define himself by leading the recovery effort, a political analyst says. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

More than one in three Queensland voters say they are unsure about the new premier, Steven Miles, according to union-commissioned polling that shows support for the Labor government improved marginally after last week’s leadership change.

The uComms SMS poll, commissioned by the Together Union, of 1,143 people on 13 December – after it became clear Miles would succeed Annastacia Palaszczuk as premier – puts the Liberal National party ahead of the Labor government 52-48 on a two-party-preferred basis.