Editorial: Robbed of sport under the Premier’s plan

This is our permanent future if we persist with the State Government’s plan, writes the editor.

Trust Australia’s most no-nonsense cricket captain to cut through the seemingly endless debate over a new Brisbane stadium and point out the obvious: that a new venue is desperately required for “rugby, cricket, Aussie rules … and the Olympics” – and so “get on with it”.

And Allan Border is right. Not only do we need to get on with it, but that a new stadium must only be done with the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics as the last thought. It must be done instead with every weekend in mind – the events that we will all enjoy outside of those few weeks in eight years time when the eyes of the world will be on us.

Yes, we have Suncorp Stadium – still the best rectangular venue for spectators in the nation, despite its major rebuild having been done more than 20 years ago. But our love for that stadium does not mean we have to deny ourselves of a new oval-shaped venue elsewhere in our capital city of 2.5 million people that could not only serve cricket and AFL into the future, but also mean we do not miss out on big acts like Taylor Swift and Coldplay – as is the case now, with every mainland capital further up the list than us.

Accessibility and the spectator and player experience are so much better in those newer venues – and, critically, their corporate facilities are far more profitable.

We will learn the harsh reality of that later this week when it is expected Cricket Australia will unveil a seven-year schedule for Test matches that does not feature Queensland beyond the Ashes series in the 2025-26 summer.

But get used to it Queensland. This is our permanent future if we persist with the State Government’s plan to only give the current Test match venue at the Gabba a much-needed but still pitiful lick of paint.

The Australia-West Indies Test at the Gabba in January

For whatever reason, the Gabba since its rebuild was completed in 2005 has not benefited as effectively from upgrades as the privately managed Suncorp Stadium has over the same time period.

And as a result, the Gabba now requires hundreds of millions of dollars of “vital maintenance work” just to maintain it to its existing (sub-par) standard.

Yet this is what our apparently cost-conscious Premier plans to do, while also allocating $1.6bn for a temporary – yes, temporary! – 40,000-seat track and field facility solely for the Games at the old QEII Stadium at Nathan in the southern suburbs of Brisbane.

The Premier’s plan also includes some cash for upgrading Suncorp Stadium, the only part of his proposal that most Queenslanders would agree with – considering it is for many of us our pride and joy.

Enter Border, who yesterday called for a brand new 60,000-seat oval-shaped stadium at Victoria Park – exactly what was proposed in the half-million dollar review of venues Premier Steven Miles ordered when he took power, only to ignore its key recommendation when it was not what he wanted.

Under the Border plan, the Gabba would become home to high-rise apartments – which makes sense as it is in the middle of a government priority development area well served by public transport such as the new Woolloongabba station of the underground Cross River Rail to open in 2026.

“I get where Cricket Australia is coming from,” Border – a proud Queenslander said. “They haven’t got any certainty about The Gabba, so we’re off the roster. It’s sad, but they’ve got to have some certainty.”

We agree. It’s time the Premier admitted his mistake. But he won’t.

BUSH SUMMIT MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER

At the heart of The Courier-Mail’s promise of “we’re for you” is to advocate for better outcomes for its readers, and the communities in which our journalists also live.

This is a commitment that goes right back to the first ever edition of the Moreton Bay Courier in 1846 – in which the publisher promised to “encourage every enterprise that will tend to benefit this colony, and in general to advance its interests – and promote its prosperity”.

It is in this spirit that we today proudly launch our annual award-winning Bush Summit series, which is run nationally across News Corp’s publications – with Queensland this year’s host state.

The Bush Summit – in its local coverage and events in every state – both celebrates rural and regional Australia, and champions the issues that matter most to those living in the bush.

Last year the Bush Summit series helped secure millions of dollars in funding for things like rural health workers, regional mental health units and drought resilience.

This year will be no different, as the issues covered by our small army of reporters across the nation will no doubt be responded to as the Prime Minister and premiers turn up at each state’s event to make promises relevant to the coverage.

Our coverage starts today with a hard truth: that the old reality of being able to escape the financial grind of life in the cities by moving to the regions is a thing of the past. This series is therefore more vital than ever to back our rural cousins.

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