All levels of government must work together on 2032 Olympic Games bid
Hosting the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane is within our grasp – it’s time for state, federal and local government politicians to make it a reality, writes Peter Gleeson.
Peter Gleeson
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The time for talk is over and the three tiers of government in this country must now put their heads together and sort out the financial commitments attached to Queensland hosting the 2032 Olympics.
As the Australian Olympic Committee and the Brisbane-based taskforce set about satisfying the International Olympic Committee’s final demands, it is incredibly important that the fiscal protocols be ironed out quickly.
Up until now, the Federal Government has committed $10 million to the feasibility study and the Queensland Government has poured millions of dollars into getting the taskforce set up and the quality work undertaken by bureaucrats to satisfy certain IOC benchmarks.
But the real work starts now. Queensland must now satisfy the IOC that it is the real deal. That means Federal, State and local government signing off on the necessary funding requirements attached to infrastructure, venues, safety and security. The IOC’s new funding model ensures a cost-neutrality for the host city, and in Queensland’s case, 75 per cent of the existing sports venues and facilities are already built.
The IOC will gift the Brisbane bid a $2.4 billion cheque, proceeds from the United States TV broadcast deal, to ensure a major stadium and athletes’ village are built. These are likely at Albion Park raceway and the village is earmarked for the Hamilton wharf area.
Just a few weeks ago, Queensland’s 2032 Olympic bid chiefs – including premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – did a late night three-hour presentation to the International Olympic Committee. Other countries such as Indonesia, India, Canada, China, Russia and Qatar did the same presentation, outlining why they should be the IOC’s choice as the preferred candidate for the 2032 Olympics.
Australia’s bid was already the front-runner. Right from the start, the IOC has been impressed with the stability and safe bet of the south-east Queensland proposal. We tick a lot of boxes. According to those who saw the presentation, Queensland hit it out of the park, particularly around social justice and gender equity benchmarks. The IOC is big on putting athletes first.
Ms Palaszczuk is at pains to point out that this will be a Games for all of Queensland, pointing to events being held in regional cities such as Townsville and Cairns.
Convincing the regions of its value will be a big challenge.
However, make no mistake about the impact an Olympic Games will have on the entire state.
The tourism benefits alone are priceless. For example, Sydney grew up after 2000. it became a true world class destination.
Queensland now has the chance to grow as the rest of the world watches on.
If we get the green light in July, over the next 12 years, Queensland will undergo the most extraordinary growth spurt as people flock here for the lifestyle and opportunities.
Much of the credit must go to Ms Palaszczuk and AOC boss John Coates.
They have believed in this project from 2015. When we are hopefully announced as the host city for 2032 in July, both Ms Palaszczuk and Mr Coates can safely take a bow.
Their legacy to Queensland will be enshrined.
But this is international politics and the stakes are extraordinarily high. We can’t take our eye off the ball, even for a second.
GOOD REASONS FOR GOING BUSH
It seems we’re more stressed out in Brisbane than anywhere else in the country and that’s what is driving city slickers to the beach and bush.
Traffic snarls and affordability are the reasons Brisbane people are making the switch. According to the Regional Australia Institute, Brisbane residents are the most stressed in the country, followed by Sydney and then Melbourne.
It seems people are not totally unhappy with city life bit it’s more the attraction of a quieter lifestyle that is proving irresistible. About seven in 10 respondents say reducing stress and anxiety are key reasons for moving outside a capital city.
Traffic congestion is the major detractor of city living, while 68 per cent said the cost of living was important in the decision to go bush.
Extra space and a connection to nature were given as primary drivers of the change.
The pandemic had simply reinforced that desire.
Concern about limited job opportunities was seen as the biggest deterrent to moving to the country even though latest job vacancy figures show more than 54,000 jobs available in the regions.
Next month, the Regional Australia Institute will host a national summit to highlight the benefits of living in country Australia. Local governments are embracing the pandemic-led changes in people’s living habits, developing strong marketing campaigns to lure capital city dwellers to their regions.
GOOD COMPANY
Wife killer Gerard Baden-Clay and former union heavy turned rapist Dave Hannahave bonded in jail.
They are inseparable, corrections sources say, and they have formed quite a formidable team.
NOISE OVERHEAD
Brisbane Airport has set up a hotline after a massive spike in noise complaints sparked by flight paths after the opening last year of the new parallel runway.
The Noise Ombudsman Kieran Pehm has undertaken to investigate all complaints.
Brisbane City Council said last week there were “many experiencing noise issues due to changes in flight paths’’.
The Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance has been formed to put a submission before the inquiry. Some residents are recording decibel rates of 117 – similar to a jackhammer.
Interestingly, the closest home to the new runway is 6km, unlike Melbourne and Sydney, where they’re within 2km.
SOCCER APOLOGY
Soccer writer Bonita Mersiades has issued a public apology to Football Queensland executives Ben Richardsonand Robert Cavallucciin a defamation settlement over a story she published on her website.
“It has been brought to my attention that some people may have interpreted the article to mean that Mr Ben Richardson and Mr Robert Cavallucci were corrupt, dishonest, acted disreputedly and were in dereliction of their duties owed to Football Queensland in their respective positions as chairman and director,’’ the apology said.
“I did not intend any such suggestions to arise. Those suggestions would be untrue and unfounded.’’
NEW COAST CEO
FORMER top bureaucrat Dave Edwards won the council vote 14-1 for the new Gold Coast City Council chief executive.
WORK FOR PAULINE
ONE Nation wants a full-time Queensland campaign director leading into the next federal election. Pauline Hanson will be No.1 on the Senate ticket.
EXPENSES SCANDAL
THE federal inquiry into the former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate’s expenses scandal is likely to be explosive, Canberra sources say. Holgate is likely to come out in better shape than some ministers, they say.