Editorial: State must hit reset button after stadium war

The revelation of a boutique stadium to stand in for the Gabba during its redevelopment is a blueprint for how not to make announcements, writes the editor.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in more conciliatory times

In what appears to be a case study in bungling, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s latest attempt to make progress towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has erupted in war.

Yesterday’s announcement that a boutique stadium was to be built at the RNA Showgrounds to allow sporting events to continue while the Gabba is being redeveloped provided a handy blueprint for governments of all persuasions on how not to make major announcements.

The state government has offered just $50m in construction costs for the proposed RNA venue while Brisbane City Council, Queensland Cricket, the Brisbane Lions and the RNA have been told they are expected to meet the rest of the costs of the $137m project which will provide the sporting bodies with a venue while the Gabba is redeveloped.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner was caught off guard, with an element of comedy entering into the equation when he revealed he had a missed call from Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe at 4.21pm on Thursday – a call in which he was presumably going to be briefed on the plan.

But his anger escalated, and by late yesterday Mr Schrinner was labelling it extortion and refusing to pay up.

Cricket and AFL feel equally left in the dark and frustrated that after a year of asking for details, they’ve been met with an expensive proposal.

This is a bungled handling of a serious matter which will have fallout that will only hurt the government.

In the past year this government has announced three new major sporting arenas in a tiny section of real estate across inner Brisbane – the $2.7bn redevelopment of the Gabba, the $2.5bn Brisbane Arena development (funded by the Commonwealth) and now the $137m, 20,000-seat RNA facility.

These projects are all part of the state’s commitment to the 2032 Olympics, which this newspaper very much supports.

But, almost from the onset of the state’s Olympic bid, the Premier has been quite strident in pointing out that Queensland already has a great deal of the required infrastructure in place for the Olympic Games and would not need to break the bank to stage a world-class event.

As the announcements keep coming, that pledge will be questioned.

Even a few months ago, in July, the Premier was insisting her government’s balance sheets were in a “sound financial position” to deliver the infrastructure needed within the boundaries of the $7bn joint funding arrangement with the Commonwealth.

But the Queensland electorate is well aware there are real problems emerging regarding costs, not least of which was the near tripling in the estimated construction bill of the centrepiece stadium at the Gabba, with the ambitious redevelopment blowing out from $1bn to $2.7bn in two years.

All this expenditure of taxpayer dollars is happening while Queenslanders have been increasingly focused on one issue – the cost of living.

None of this helps the Premier’s election fortunes, with party elders coming out of the woodwork to criticise her leadership.

The government needs a reset button.

It goes without saying that yesterday’s ham-fisted announcement was not it.

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORTSWOMEN

It’s been a pivotal year for women in sport so it’s only fitting we round out 2023 with two exciting competitions this weekend which, once again, put Queensland in the national spotlight.

Tonight cricket’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL 2023) is set to conclude, with the final between Brisbane Heat and the Adelaide Strikers at Adelaide Oval.

Tomorrow the 2023 NAB AFLW Grand Final between Brisbane and North Melbourne kicks off at Ikon Park in Melbourne at 2.30pm.

Queensland made history this year when the state – via the Lions and the Broncos – won a berth in both the AFL and NRL grand finals, respectively.

The men put up a worthy fight in both contests but, unfortunately, failed to bring home a trophy.

We know the entire state will be behind the women this weekend as they not only make Queensland proud, but once again put the spotlight on the rapidly evolving and exciting phenomenon that is women’s sport in Australia.

In a year where the Matildas took this country by storm, the inspiring stories only continue.

The women who run on to the field this weekend will continue the grand tradition of making young girls ambitious for their own future.

Queensland, let’s once again show this country what we are made of.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Anna Caldwell, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here