Switzerland Olympics meeting the most crucial in Queensland history
When Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and other local pollies and business figures head to Switzerland next month, they will attend a day-long meeting that could be the catalyst to an economic and fiscal boost that will sustain the Sunshine State for generations.
Opinion
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AS THE Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk has many important meetings and duties but nothing will compare to a day-long gathering in Switzerland next month.
It may well be the most crucial meeting in Queensland history.
It is a defining chapter in the modern-day telling of the Queensland story, shaping as a catalyst to an economic and fiscal boost that will sustain the Sunshine State for generations.
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On September 10, the premier will meet with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, formally tabling Queensland’s 2032 Olympic Games bid.
If the IOC likes what it sees, the Queensland budgetary sign-off will be done before Christmas.
There is a real prospect that if it all goes to plan, Queensland could be named to host of the Olympics in 2032 within 12 months, either just before or after the Tokyo Olympics.
Most importantly, Ms Palaszczuk will present a united bid, backed by Federal, State and local governments and the business community, as well as a promise to meet the fiscal, safety and infrastructure requirements expected for the greatest show on earth.
Ms Palaszczuk will be joined in Lausanne by Australian Olympic Committee chairman John Coates, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, the Commonwealth’s representative, Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien, and Star Entertainment chairman John O’Neill.
She will then travel to Paris to inspect the French capital’s 2024 Olympics facilities, as well as meet with trade officials about strengthening Queensland ties with France.
Recent changes to the way the IOC decides on Olympic bids has given Queensland a golden opportunity to capitalise on our many strengths.
Ms Palaszczuk will tell the IOC that we are ready and willing to deliver a better Olympics than Sydney, still regarded as the benchmark by the IOC.
The extraordinary success of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Queensland’s sensational winter climate (we’d be in the middle of the Games right now), and our political and economic stability in an ever-changing and uncertain global environment are key selling points.
Our bid must be so compelling, so professional, that we must give the IOC no choice but to give Queensland the nod.
While obviously Brisbane will host the major component of the Games, such as the opening and closing ceremonies, Ms Palaszczuk is at pains to point out that Queensland will be the big winner.
For example, boxing would be held in Logan, sailing in the Whitsundays, beach volleyball and surfing on the Gold Coast, rowing on the Sunshine Coast, basketball in Townsville and gymnastics in Cairns.
Again, the stars have aligned for such a bid with the IOC rule changes allowing events to be spread out, to reduce the fiscal burden on bidding countries,
Of course, the tourism and economic opportunities cannot be quantified. Having the eyes of the world on Queensland for two weeks – with the many international visitors here for the event – is a marketing dream.
Throw in the psychological effect of our state – our people – pulling together to deliver the biggest event on the world stage, and the confidence that would derive, especially for business, is incalculable.
But the real benefit is legacy. As a state we have a deadline. It’s 2032. That’s when we show the world what we’re made of. That means a lot of hard work.
Building new roads, hotels, bridges, stadiums, highways, train routes, airports, theme parks … the list goes on.
Hosting the Olympics accelerates the infrastructure required to do the job properly, turning Queensland into a fiscal and economic powerhouse by 2032.
It transforms the state’s capital, Brisbane, into one of the world’s most liveable cities.
It gives the Gold and Sunshine Coasts renewed purpose and it sends a signal to the regions that they have not been forgotten.
Queenslanders are firmly behind the Olympic bid and senior business leaders are united in their support for 2032.
For a state with such a proud sporting history (think Rod Laver, Greg Norman, Cathy Freeman), we will never be in a stronger position to secure the Games.
Political bipartisanship is essential. We must be united, patient and disciplined. Losing this opportunity should not be an option.
TWITTER LOSING ITS RELEVANCE
TWITTER played a crucial role in Bill Shorten’s defeat in the May 18 poll.
Because the majority of Twitter users are Left-wing cowards, they deluded themselves into believing the Labor Party was home and hosed.
With their inflated egos running rampant, they convinced themselves Labor would win easily.
They even began celebrating before the poll, deriding conservative commentators and taunting them with comments about how they’d “love to see their faces after Labor wins the election’’.
Of course, Labor Party powerbrokers were seduced by Twitter’s rejection of Coalition policies and subsequently ran the most flaccid ALP campaign in modern political history.
But it now seems the latest US research has confirmed that Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are losing their relevance.
New York artist Brad Phillips is the poster boy for why artists should be on Instagram, yet he says most of his sales don’t come through social media.
“I think about deleting it (Instagram) daily,’’ he says. “Exposure, the mythical goal of social media, isn’t always a good thing.’’
Phillips’ comments come as the Morrison Government considers the harshest social media laws in the world in an attempt to crack down on social media’s unmitigated distribution of material, including content produced by traditional media outlets.
I find Twitter to be a destructive form of social engineering.
My sense is that many of the people who make it their home are either alcoholics, addicted to illegal substances or suffer from a personality disorder.
It’s the only way to rationalise the visceral tone.
The fact that it’s dominated by the Left reinforces that notion.
LIBS’ JACKIE JIBE
GEORGE Street spies say there is no chance of a Cabinet spill any time soon, despite Treasurer Jackie Trad’s integrity woes.
However, should the CCC probe implicate Ms Trad, the prospect of a leadership challenge becomes a live option.
Senior Labor figures say Cabinet is in denial about the damage the Trad affair has had on the Government.
But the Liberals have some damning poll results about Ms Trad.
Seems she’s not just unpopular in the regions anymore.
They’ve taken to calling her “Dodgy Jackie’’ in press releases.
MPS PITCH TENTS
FEDERAL Coalition MP Trevor Evans and his state counterpart, Tim Nicholls, were highly visible at yesterday’s popular Clayfield College Fair.
Both had big personalised tents with helpers handing out nice coffee and advice.
Smart politics or the luxury of incumbency? Both.
LOVE HOW BRISSIE’S HANDLIN ITSELF
SONY boss Denis Handlin is a busy guy.
He was in Brisbane last week for the Sony Foundation lunch which raised an extraordinary $480,000.
Handlin, who travels the world, was super impressed with Howard Smith Wharves.
“Brisbane is flying,’’ he said.
STEFANOVIC PROVES STELLAR
EXPECT Karl Stefanovic to do more radio.
The Channel 9 star filled in for Steve Price on 2GB and 4BC from noon to 3pm twice last week.
Macquarie bosses were said to be “over the moon’’ with the listener response.
PRIZE FOR LEAST NEWSY NEWS GOES TO...
WHAT a scoop. The ABC ran footage last week of a farmer killing a sheep ... at a sheep property.
Who would have thought?
A sheep dying at a sheep property?
The video was supplied by animal liberationists.
These people are seriously delusional.
SWANNING OFF TO BIG APPLE
FORMER federal treasurer Wayne Swan has been holidaying in New York and looks very relaxed. His timing was always impeccable.
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I know we are in holiday mode, but if you don’t mind I’d like your opinion on an issue of great importance before we all clock off for the year.
Think outside box with Olympic bid
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