Editorial: David Crisafulli must change Anthony Albanese’s mind on Brisbane Arena
David Crisafulli is going to have to change Anthony Albanese’s mind on the Brisbane Arena between now and Tuesday, writes the editor.
Opinion
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This weekend is when the rubber will really hit the road for Premier David Crisafulli and his appointed Games-tsar deputy Jarrod Bleijie.
It is when the pair have to convince Games organisers – and through them, the International Olympic Committee – that the plan they have drawn up for venues will work.
There is a general sense that now is the time to just accept whatever the government has planned and get on with it, following years of ham-fisted political dilly-dallying that has seen us squander fully one-third of the time between being granted the Games in 2021 and the opening ceremony in 2032.
This would be a good thing, as we cannot remain becalmed forever. Without action soon, we do risk becoming an embarrassment – a host city heading down the same path as Athens was in 2004 in terms of our lack of progress.
We simply must start building or upgrading the venues required – and the transport infrastructure needed – or we could miss the only deadline that actually matters: Friday, July 23, 2032 – when the Opening Ceremony happens.
But one of the most significant puzzle pieces remains unresolved. And that is whether the federal government will stick with its plan to spend $2.5bn of its promised $3.4bn contribution for venues on building a new inner-city arena, as likely recommended by the 100-day independent review. Or will the federal government give ground on that and instead allow the state to split up that funding to help cover the venues masterplan the Premier will unveil next Tuesday at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane lunch – that is understood to now not include a new inner-city arena.
The Premier met on Wednesday in Brisbane with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. No doubt this topic was on that agenda.
But on Thursday morning, Mr Albanese was doing the rounds of FM radio in Brisbane, and when asked on Nova if he was planning to dump his arena promise, he made it clear the state still had some convincing to do.
“I’ll leave them make their announcements about their position, but the federal government, we have provided $2.5bn for an indoor arena,” Mr Albanese said.
“Importantly, the whole objective there wasn’t just to provide a thing for the Olympic Games, but for a legacy (because) big artists when they come to Australia want to play a venue that is close to the city and that is world-class.”
The Prime Minister went on to say that he would “of course listen to (the state government’s) views... but we do have an agreement that that’s what our money is for, and on top of that we have another $900m for the other smaller venues”.
The agreement he is referring to is the document signed between the state and federal governments on February 17, 2023. On page 5, it clearly spells out that up to $2.5bn of the commonwealth’s $3.435bn “capped financial contribution to Queensland … toward venue infrastructure for Brisbane 2032” would be for the Brisbane Arena.
The only way this can be adjusted is by agreement in writing by the Commonwealth and Queensland, and so the Premier is going to have to change the Prime Minister’s mind between now and Tuesday. If he fails to do that, the plan unveiled on Tuesday – that it is now almost universally understood to include the construction of a new stadium at Victoria Park – might not be fully funded. That would not be good.
Nobody would have thought six months ago that the biggest issue relating to Games venues would not be the stadium. But the politicians got involved again, and here we are.
NRL’S BEST RIVALRY
The birth of the Dolphins in 2023 gave Brisbane footy fans a cross-town rivalry to savour – The Battle!
The matches have quickly become some of the most eagerly anticipated on the NRL calendar, with the upstart Phins measuring themselves against their older cousins across town.
But for Broncos fans, The Battle will never replace the Queensland Derby against the Cowboys.
Since 1995, Queensland’s two oldest clubs have met 53 times, and although the Broncos may have bragging rights – they have won 35 of those matches – it is the team from Townsville that triumphed in the one match that mattered most.
That legendary 2015 grand final will live in the memory of both sets of fans forever.
Broncos fans will remember their team’s inability to close out the game in the final minutes, including Ben Hunt’s dropped kick-off that gave the ball back to the Cowboys in extra time.
Cows fans fill remember Johnathan Thurston calmly potting the field goal to give his team its first premiership.
Tonight, Hunt – now back at the Broncos after seven seasons with the Dragons – is out for some redemption in front of 45,000 screaming fans at Suncorp Stadium.
What will the next chapter of this great rivalry be like?
We can’t wait to find out.
Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here
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