Brisbane 2032 Olympics Games organising committee, all the changes

Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called for the state to “get on with it” but declined to comment whether Queensland had made the most of its runway. Bit rich? Vote in our poll

Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Dan Peled

Former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has marked the seven-year milestone towards Brisbane 2032 with a call for the state to “get on with it”.

“The Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and in the spirit of the Olympic movement we need to ensure it’s the best our state has to offer,” she told The Courier-Mail.

“We need to be inclusive of all of Queensland and offer our children the best opportunity for our states best to compete on our own soil.”

Ms Palaszczuk also called for the opposition to back the government’s plan for the Games.

“We need bipartisan support across the political divide,” she said.

“The baton has been passed to Premier David Crisafulli and I wish him the best.”

Ms Palaszczuk declined to comment on the past four years of planning for the Games and whether Queensland had made the most of the historic 11-year runway.

“Seven years to go, let’s put on the greatest show on earth,” she said.

It comes after Champion golfer Greg Norman and business leader Rebecca Frizelle survived the dramatic purge of athletes and CEOs from Brisbane’s Olympic Games organising committee.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Norman and Ms Frizelle – who have significant global sport and business experience – were chosen to remain as the two independent directors after the 24-person committee was slashed to 15.

Wesfarmers chief executive officer Rob Scott and former Olympians Tracy Stockwell, Natalie Cook and Patrick Johnson were among 10 people booted from the board.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli was the only person added, replacing Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding.

Sports Minister Tim Mander will become vice president – alongside federal Sports Minister Anika Wells – following the exit of Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie.

The Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission – President Andrew Liveris, CEO Cindy Hook, Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, Kirsty Coventry, James Watson and Rebecca Frizelle. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Newly-appointed Australian Olympic Committee chief executive officer Mark Arbib also missed out on a spot.

Streamlining the organising committee was recommended by the 100-day review panel of experts to improve decision making.

The number of vice presidents has been cut from six to two and the board is now made up of nine men and six women after the state government removed gender quotas in June.

To guide the board, four advisory groups will be established including First Nations, chaired by Mr Johnson; Athletes and Sport, chaired by Susie O’Neill; Commercial, chaired by Mr Liveris; and Councils, chaired by Mr Schrinner.

Mr Mander said the changes were sensible and practical to deliver good governance.

“The board will focus on setting the strategy, offering greater clarity and direction so the Organising Committee can focus on delivering a spectacular Games in 2032,” he said.

Mr Liveris supported the changes and paid tribute to the outgoing board directors who had worked to ensure Brisbane 2032 was on track.

“The Queensland Government has been swift in their priorities relating to the Games since being elected in October last year, not only putting in place the 2032 Delivery Plan, but reviewing the overall structure of the Games, including the Brisbane 2032 board,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli. Picture: Andrew Hedgman

THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE

■ President: Andrew Liveris

■ Vice President: Tim Mander – Queensland Sports Minister

■ Vice President: Anika Wells – Federal Sports Minister

■ Greg Norman – Independent

■ Rebecca Frizelle – Independent

■ Adrian Schrinner – Lord Mayor

■ Tom Tate – Gold Coast Mayor

■ Rosanna Natoli – Sunshine Coast Mayor

■ Jess Fox – Athlete, International Olympic Committee member

■ Robyn Smith – International Paralympic Committee board member

■ Ian Chesterman – Australian Olympic Committee President

■ John Coates – Australian Olympic Committee Honorary Life President

■ Grant Mizens – Paralympic Australia President

■ Kurt Fearnley – Paralympic athlete

■ Georgia Baker – Olympic athlete

Businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle. Picture Brisbane 2032

WHO’S OUT

■ Jarrod Bleijie - Deputy Premier

■ Mark Arbib - Australian Olympic Committee CEO

■ Brett Clark - Former Chemist Warehouse MD, businessman

■ Natalie Cook - Former Olympian

■ Teresa Harding - Ipswich Mayor

■ Patrick Johnson - Indigenous representative, former Olympian

■ Sarah Kelly - Head of QUT business school, businesswoman

■ Shelley Reys - Indigenous representative, businesswoman

■ Rob Scott - Wesfarmers CEO

■ Tracy Stockwell - Former Olympian, businesswoman