Editorial: Olympics aren’t the reason we need a Brisbane Arena

The LNP state government’s biggest challenge will be its responds to the review into Olympic venues, writes the editor.

A concept of the Brisbane Arena at Roma Street Parkland

A new inner-city indoor arena for Brisbane to replace the ageing Boondall Entertainment Centre was first proposed to the state government’s Urban Land Development Authority in 2007.

The proponent – AEG Ogden (now Legends/ASM Global) then subsequently won the backing of the LNP Newman government for the idea ahead of the 2014 election, with the now-Parmalat milk factory site next to the Gallery of Modern Art chosen as the likely location.

A year later the new Palaszczuk Labor government invited the idea to be submitted into its market-led proposals scheme that aimed to deliver necessary infrastructure or services via exclusive commercial deals with the private sector.

In the lead up to the 2017 election then LNP opposition leader, Tim Nicholls, promised to build on the idea with a Brisbane Entertainment and Education Precinct at the Roma Street rail station site – a “game changer for Brisbane” that would create 8000 new jobs.

Labor won that election, but the Department of State Development was tasked in 2018 with doing a full business case for the idea – a full year before then premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced, in late 2019, that Brisbane would be bidding for the 2032 Games.

That bid was made under the new demand from the International Olympic Committee that most venues be either already planned or in existence – and the Brisbane Arena was included on that basis.

Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: David Clark

In other words, the proposal for a inner-city arena predated by at least four years Queensland’s bid for the Olympics. It was an idea progressed by both sides of politics because it was a necessary thing for our growing capital city – “a great example of … transformational infrastructure” according to then infrastructure minister Jackie Trad when AEG Ogden handed its plans to the government in May 2016.

Therefore, recent attempts by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to gaslight the new state government into thinking the arena is somehow only required to host the swimming events in 2032 are as mischievous as they are plainly incorrect.

Every other major city in the world has a similar venue – able to host around 20,000 people – in its central business district. It just makes sense, as fans attending concerts and shows can spend cash in the restaurants and bars of the CBD before and after their event – and they have multiple ways of getting home afterwards.

This is of course not the case at Boondall. The venue itself (which is managed by ASM Global) has held up very well considering it is almost 40 years old. But as we all know from experience, there is simply nothing else there – which means very limited options beforehand, and either a mad dash to catch the last train or a long delay in the carpark queue afterwards.

Former treasurer Jackie Trad

In all likelihood, the independent Games venue review board hand-picked by Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie as the “best of the best in their field” will have recommended the yet-to-be-built arena in the report they formally handed to the government over the weekend.

Despite Ms Palaszczuk’s recent ham-fisted attempts to rewrite history, her government in the post-Covid-19 years was a shambles, and for a never-explained reason did not manage to get the arena built.

Consequently, its cost is now likely to be upwards of $3bn – $2.5bn of which is being covered by the federal government (which has included that money in its budget). The remainder could be drummed up via some form of medium-term management deal with private investors, as happens in most cases these days around the world.

If the Crisafulli government is serious about being taken seriously, it simply must press on with the now almost two-decade-old plans to deliver this necessary venue.

The arena’s value is proven. Its need is obvious. The LNP knew this when it included the build in its election campaign promises list at both the 2014 and 2017 polls.

Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

We understand the temptation for this government of looking for other options considering only four of its 52 MPs represent electorates in Brisbane, but redirecting money from necessary infrastructure – as the Brisbane Arena is proven to be – to risky white-elephant venues in electorates you hold is called pork-barrelling. And voters are not stupid – they will remember, and they will punish you for so obviously playing politics with their cash.

Premier David Crisafulli has so far done well in the leadership he has shown through the current weather emergency. He has been a calm leader who has not played politics with the disaster in any way.

But his biggest challenge now will be how his government responds to the review’s recommendations, and so he needs to not just outsource it to his deputy. It is mission critical.

Mr Crisafulli has said himself that our Games plans are in the mess they are because the politicians got involved – in making captain’s calls without doing the work, for second-guessing how voters will respond (and getting it wrong), and by just ignoring the experts. He is right.

We know the review’s report will be released publicly on March 25 alongside the government’s plan. It would be a seriously big mistake if the two are not in lock-step.

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