Steven Miles ignoring central role in Olympics preparations

For more than two years, Steven Miles was in charge of the Brisbane 2032 Games’ infrastructure plans – not to mention his role as Deputy Premier. Now he seems to be pretending he was never there, writes Stephanie Bennett.

For more than two years, Steven Miles was the man in charge of the Brisbane 2032 Games’ infrastructure plans – not to mention second-in-command in Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government. Now, it’s as if he is attempting to pretend he was never there.

The Premier has spent the past two days walking back his impassioned pleas that the rebuild of the Gabba was the best option, despite declaring only eight weeks ago it would deliver Queenslanders the “best bang for their buck”.

Then-deputy premier Steven Miles at a media conference at the Gabba about an Olympics rebuild in April 2021. File picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Then, without a hint of irony, he took a swing at Scott Morrison’s “white elephant” Pinkenba quarantine facility, despite being the man charged with the delivery of Wellcamp – a site taxpayers paid $220m for, and then promptly handed to the Wagner family.

Asked why he had gone from “there isn’t a scenario that doesn’t require the (Gabba) upgrade”, to asking former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to review the plan, the Premier says he was working off the advice he was given.

Not only that, but he revealed he had tasked his department – headed by Mike Kaiser – to come back with better (read, cheaper) alternatives, which they could not do. What he has failed to explain is why he thinks Mr Quirk can – in 60 days – come up with a better option.

Mr Miles’ trust in Mr Kaiser’s advice is well known.

So much so that when he became Premier, one of the first things he did was appoint Mr Kaiser as the state’s top public servant.

What is more likely, is that Mr Miles has seen the writing on the wall in regards to public sentiment for the rebuild – and wants to position himself as far away from being the man who decided to tear down the Gabba as possible.

Originally published as Steven Miles ignoring central role in Olympics preparations