Anthony Albanese says 2032 Brisbane Games could still move some events

Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has weighed in as Anthony Albanese has sensationally suggested two major sports could be hosted in NSW and Victoria during the 2032 Games. HAVE YOUR SAY

An AI image of the rowing at the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sensationally cast doubt over the Brisbane 2032 venue plan by suggesting Melbourne could still host tennis and rowing be relocated from Rockhampton to Sydney.

The state government has been quick to slap down Mr Albanese’s suggestions declaring all events will be held in Queensland.

Mr Albanese – appearing on the Two Good Sports podcast published Friday – said there was “a bit of a debate going on” over the Games and called out the two sports when discussing the viability and burden to taxpayers of major events.

“I’ve been meeting with (2032 Organising Committee President) Andrew Liveris as well as with the Queensland Premier (David) Crisafulli about where it goes,” he told the podcast.

“For example, are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith?”

Artwork for the Queensland Tennis Centre at Tennyson.

“There’s a debate over tennis and what’s needed there in Brisbane as well.”

The surprise comments come as the Albanese and Crisafulli government remained locked in discussions to repurpose $2.5b allocated to the indoor Brisbane Arena in the intergovernmental agreement.

The federal and state governments are joint partners in the $7.1bn Olympic venue infrastructure build, which includes a new 3000-seat show court and 12 new match courts are slated for the Queensland Tennis Centre as part of a Games upgrade.

“You have pretty good tennis facilities here (in Melbourne),” Mr Albanese told the podcast.

“Those things need to be worked through.

“It might be that the tennis stadium is built in Brisbane – fantastic.

“I think it’s legitimate for there to be proper discussion.

Anthony Albanese has thrown a spanner in the works of 2032. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“But it might be that you just can’t do everything in one spot in the future.”

Hosting rowing in the crocodile-infested river has drawn criticism and ridicule.

Mr Crisafulli has previously said he would ensure “Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane”.
Former Queensland Premier has reiterated the importance of collaboration between the Queensland and the Australian governments in the overall delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Look these are the Queensland games and the Australian games and can I just say this will be worked out. It will be worked out between the Queensland government and the Australian government,” Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Weekend Today on Saturday morning.

“But the Queensland government can’t go and make these unilateral decisions.”

Ms Palaszczuk said all forms of government need to sit down with the IOC and come to an agreement to deliver the “people’s games.”

Former Queensland Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Annastacia Palaszczuk during a press conference at the 2032 Legacy Forum. Picture: Dan Peled

“There is also the IOC so cool heads need to prevail here with the games, they all need to sit down and work out the agreement because these are the people’s games,” she said.

“They are not the games of one individual, and the International Olympic Committee has to have a say.

“I think David will step in and deal with the Prime Minister on this he will sideline his deputy because these games are too important, they are important for the Australian people and you know it took a lot of negotiation between me and Scott Morrison.

“We got it done, and I am quite sure David Crisafulli and Albo and the IOC will work it out.

“The games are for Australians and we need to showcase the best of Queensland.” Tennis Queensland CEO Cameron Pearson said: “The Premier confirmed in March that Olympic and Paralympic tennis will be played in Brisbane, and we’ve had productive discussions since.”

In a statement on Friday, a Queensland Government spokeswoman said: “We are working with all levels of government to implement the 2032 Games Delivery Plan, which will see Rowing in Rockhampton and Tennis played at the upgraded Queensland Tennis Centre.”

A Brisbane 2032 spokesman said discussions relating to the Venue Master Plan were ongoing between key stakeholders, including the International Olympic and Paralympic committees, and International Federations.

“We are moving swiftly to make operational assessments and to align our Venue Master Plan and initial sports program, ready for endorsement from the IOC, IPC and International Federations next year,” the spokesman said.

“Delivering world-class fields of play that provide an optimal performance environment for athletes remains key for Brisbane 2032 and ensuring International Federations are involved in planning and delivery will help achieve this outcome.

“We are also focused on ensuring the Venue Master Plan accounts for a safe, secure and accessible environment for all participants and spectators and gives Brisbane 2032 the best chance of commercial success, given we are self-funded.”

Rowing Queensland chief executive officer Anthea O’Loughlin welcomed Mr Albanese’s engagement “in the ongoing discussion about the location of rowing for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

“We support the decision to keep rowing in Queensland and look forward to continued discussion on suitability, legacy value and long-term benefit to the sport,” she said.

An AI image of 2032 rowing at the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.

In response to his podcast comments, an Albanese government spokesman said there needed to be a “common sense approach” to ensure 2032 was a great Games.

“We’re working closely and in good faith with the Queensland Government around any proposed changes to Olympics venues,” he said.

“These discussions are underway.”