Premier to broker peace deal amid state, council Olympics war

A Senate inquiry into hosting a Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games extended in the wake of the Lord Mayor withdrawing his support for the Gabba redevelopment.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is attempting to broker a peace deal between the state government and city hall amid a bungle over the cost of Olympic Games infrastructure.

Relations between Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and the state government plunged to new lows over the weekend when Mr Schrinner accused the state of attempting to extort ratepayers for some $50m of the $137m needed to upgrade the RNA Showgrounds.

Mr Schrinner’s subsequent resignation for an intergovernmental forum on the 2032 Games then prompted Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to label the Lord Mayor’s actions “bewildering”.

Artist impression of what the RNA Main Arena might look like during the Gabba redevelopment.

Ms Palaszczuk – who travelled to Tokyo with Mr Schrinner in 2021 to see Brisbane appointed host city and has since enjoyed a close relationship with the Lord Mayor – on Monday acknowledged the “very disappointing” events over the weekend.

“Well look, these things happen,” she said.

“There’s council elections coming up and the people will say things and do things that they perceive to be in their best interest coming up to an election.

“I will extend the hand of friendship there and say I’m more than happy to sit down and speak.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

The Premier said she would speak to the Lord Mayor and said the investment would create a significant legacy stadium for the RNA.

“When we built the Springfield stadium there was a great partnership between the AFL, the Queensland Government and the Ipswich City Council,” she said.

“In this instance, the Lord Mayor did suggest the RNA as a perhaps a good suitable venue and we’ve put our money on the table and what we’re asking for simply is a partnership, a partnership between the state government, the RNA and the council – that’s up to council to decide how much they can put in.”

Adrian Schrinner, the Brisbane mayor resigns from 2032 Olympics forum, he has quit the Brisbane 2032 Games delivery forum, on Sunday 3rd December 2023 – Photo Steve Pohlner

Ms Palaszczuk insisted Mr Hinchliffe had not bungled the RNA Showgrounds announcement and denied her role as Olympics minister meant she should have led consultation with the council and stakeholders.

“I can’t do every single thing,” she said.

“I have ministers, I have very capable ministers that are out there that have portfolios and some of those portfolios are to assist me in those duties.”

The war between the state and council has also prompted the Senate to vote to extend its inquiry into hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

After an eight-month probe the committee was due to report its final findings on Wednesday, however it will now be extended to October 31 - days after the next state election.

Queensland Senator and committee member Matt Canavan said the extension would allow the inquiry to probe the state government’s Olympics infrastructure program.

“The Games seem to have completely collapsed and we need now to work out what the hell is going on,” Senator Canavan said.

“Up until a week ago it seemed all levels of government were working cooperatively together… we can’t afford to let the planning of the Games continue to slip.”

Senator Canavan argued the state’s previous management of taxpayer dollars required “strong oversight”.

“I fear part of the disarray is due to the Premier’s decision to centralise decision making in her office - there needs to be consideration for the establishment of an independent infrastructure authority,” he said.

“The state government is drunk with cashflow from coal - so much money from the coal mining industry and they’ve lost what the value of money is.”