Editorial: Games co-ordination office must get moving on massive job still ahead

A 2032 Games co-ordination authority is not just a nice thing to have, it is critical to the success of Brisbane’s global event, writes the editor.

History shows that to host a successful Olympics and Paralympics, you need to not only have a highly capable Organising Committee but also a highly functional co-ordination authority that brings together all the other “Games delivery partners”.

This is why it was so important the Palaszczuk government has come up with what it will announce on Tuesday – a formal body comprising representatives of all three levels of government that have skin in the 2032 Games to oversee the co-ordination office that will be established within the Premier’s own department.

There had been serious concerns raised about the very likely prospect that the co-ordination office would be too close to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after her deputy, Steven Miles, spoke perhaps a little too prematurely last week and revealed the traditional model of a stand-alone co-ordination authority had been rejected.

An artist's impression of fireworks over Brisbane for the 2032 Games.

But the detail of the governance model – designed and consulted on by Deloitte – should put at least some of those concerns to rest.

As we report today, the proposal is for the co-ordination office to be embedded in the heart of the state government.

However, the addition of the intergovernmental leaders’ forum, with a genuine representation of all three levels of government, is a good – and a necessary – thing.

While it will be chaired by Ms Palaszczuk, as the minister responsible for the Games, it will also include the mayors of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast as well as two ministers from the federal government. Mr Miles will also be there, alongside Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris.

A representative of the South East Queensland Council of Mayors and the Local Government Association will complete the group, although it is understood both will be there as observers only.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris. Picture: Patrick Woods

This “leaders forum” will not only ensure each government is across the progress being made and resolve issues as they emerge, but it will also – sources say – be tasked with guiding and informing the direction of all non-Organising Committee planning and delivery. Again, this is a necessary thing.

A co-ordination authority is not just a nice thing to have, it is critical. As we noted here last week, the Olympic Co-ordination Authority traditionally sits level with the Organising Committee in terms of its importance.

After Sydney 2000, the International Olympics Committee awarded its Gold Order to just two people – the chair of SOCOG and the chair of OCA.

That was how important both were to staging what was then described as the “best Olympic Games ever”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Steve Pohlner

And so considering the decision has been made that in Brisbane’s case the co-ordination body itself will be not a stand-alone authority but instead buried within the Premier’s Department, the leaders forum – essentially a non-formal board – is a critical thing.

Ms Palaszczuk deserves credit for having agreed with the Deloitte oversight model.

The forum’s main task will be to ensure that the co-ordination office gets moving with real energy around the massive job still ahead of it.

The venues are now locked and loaded, but the legacy strategy and the plan around related transport and other infrastructure need to be delivered.

If the Games are a success, the Organising Committee will have done its job.

If we are left ruing the missed chances for real legacy from this once-in-a-forever event, it is the co-ordination office that future generations will blame.