Brisbane 2032 boss faces second day of scrutiny from senior Labor MPs

The news

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris has faced a second day of questions from senior Queensland Labor government figures, after appearing at an event for federal LNP energy spokesperson Ted O’Brien’s fundraising program.

Liveris was the drawcard of a Fairfax Network event on Wednesday in an exclusive Brisbane wine cellar, organised by the LNP’s Sunshine Coast regional chair, for a discussion titled “Brisbane 2032: An Olympic Opportunity”.

The event, attended by Liveris before heading to Cairns for a Brisbane 2032 committee meeting this week, has been described by both Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien and a spokesperson for the committee as a “networking event”.Credit: Jeremy Piper

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, asked at a Friday media conference if the appearance was a “good look”, said it was a matter for Liveris, but “if he has a conflict of interest, he should be upfront”.

In comments provided to The Australian, which first reported the event, a Brisbane 2032 spokesperson said Liveris accepted the invitation after organisers advised it was not a fundraiser and was open to non-members.

Why it matters

The Fairfax Network is run by the LNP regional chair, Mitchell Dickens, on behalf of O’Brien. Its 2024-25 membership is $500 and covers the first event, with “invitations to all the Network’s [other] exclusive events throughout the year” then “charged at cost”.

The event comes at a politically sensitive time, with weeks until a state election set to shift direction of Games stadium plans – which Liveris made his strongest remarks about to-date on Wednesday – should O’Brien’s state party mates win.

On Thursday, Miles accused state LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli of bowing to pressure from an unnamed “Olympic big wig” to block redevelopment of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in favour of a new stadium.

Liveris and Brisbane 2032 vice president, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, wrote to State Development Minister Grace Grace this month requesting appointments to the new delivery authority wait until after the election to “keep the Games out of the political cycle”.

What they said

Liveris, through the organising committee, has been contacted for comment. The spokesperson told The Australian he was invited to “speak at a networking event” for O’Brien, a fellow committee member during the Morrison government.

O’Brien also told the paper it was “a networking event, not a fundraiser, as all tickets were charged on an at-cost basis” and feedback from the business community who attended “was excellent”.

The event drew 30 people – at least 21 Fairfax Network members or their guests – and was “deliberately ensured” to be apolitical with a wider invitation, “as a former BOCOG director myself, and knowing Andrew doesn’t play partisan politics”, he said.

Asked if she had “confidence in Andrew Liveris’ bipartisanship” at her Friday media conference, Fentiman said: “I think they are very important questions to put to Andrew Liveris”.

What you need to know

The federal Coalition also faces an election due by June, at which the party – via O’Brien in his portfolio – is pitching nuclear reactors at seven sites nationwide.

Last year, Liveris said “some outdated view of nuclear power” should not take small modular reactors out of the conversation to ensure a zero-emissions Games.