Gillard accused of using G20 leaders 'political pawns'

THE PM insists Brisbane was the "standout" city to host the G20 summit amid claims of a political move to regain support in Queensland.

Gillard G20 announcement

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard insists Brisbane was the "standout" city to host the Group of 20 leaders' summit in 2014 amid claims of a political move to regain support in Queensland.

Ms Gillard was in Brisbane to announce the Queensland capital would host the leaders of the world's biggest economies on November 15-16, 2014.

She said Brisbane's bid to host the event was a "standout" but she expected other bidders to be disappointed.

"It's important that when when we put Australia's face to the world, that face is one of a number of world-class cities in our nation," she said.

Queensland cities also will host lead-up events including the trade and finance ministers' meetings as well as the B20 (business chiefs) and L20 (unions) summits.

But anger at Brisbane's win appears to go beyond interstate rivalry with claims the city's right to host the summit was more a strategic political move to shore up votes than the result of it the having the best bid.

The Campbell Newman-led Liberal National Party swept to power in a landslide earlier this year with Labor losing 40 seats and retaining only seven.

And there are growing fears among the Labor party that the wipeout could be repeated at a federal level.

In 2010 Labor lost six of the nine seats it gained in 2007 when Kevin Rudd was leader of the party. The latest Newspoll show's Labor's primary vote in Queensland is at a record low 22 per cent, compared with 54 per cent for the Tony Abbott-led Coalition.

NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard said Ms Gillard had made a political move to reclaim support for her party in Queensland.

"She's chosen Brisbane simply to use the leaders of the world as political pawns in her game to try and win back the votes across Queensland," he told AAP.

"It's insulting to the 20 leaders."

A Sydney business group has slammed the federal government for putting its political fortunes in Queensland above the national interest.

"This was the opportunity to further embed Sydney on the global stage and reinforce its place among the great cities of the world," executive director of the Sydney Business Chamber, Patricia Forsyth, said in a statement.

"What Sydney offers simply can't be replicated elsewhere. Brisbane is a terrific city, but it's not Sydney."

But federal Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury said the NSW government was to blame for its failed bid.

"Brad Hazzard is just playing politics to cover up for his government's decision to shut down Sydney's only major convention facility for three years for renovations," he said in a statement.

"The O'Farrell government's decision to close the Sydney Convention Centre facilities while the G20 will be held in Australia, combined with ongoing concerns about capacity constraints at Sydney airport left Brisbane with the more competitive bid."

The federal government has set aside $370 million over four years to plan and run the summit, with the Queensland government expected to provide state police and cover some other costs.

Asked whether she expected to attend the event as prime minister, the Labor leader said it would be up to voters in 2013.

She warned that the global event would come with "a huge security operation", given that leaders from the United States, China, Britain and Russia would be among those attending.

The G20, to be held in the Russian city of St Petersburg next year, will bring to Brisbane about 4000 delegates and 3000 accredited media.

Joining national leaders will be key officials from the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation and the International Monetary Fund.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he expected the federal government to cover most of the costs and had received a guarantee that no community would be left with inadequate police resources due to the summit.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the summit would be a big economic boost for the city.