‘Drums have been very very loud’: Crisafulli’s explosive Gabba accusation

The Opposition has sensationally accused the Queensland government of preparing to walk away from the controversial Gabba rebuild.

• Your view: Gabba rebuild ‘fiasco’ goes nuclear

The Opposition has sensationally accused the government of preparing to walk away from the controversial Gabba rebuild as Premier Steven Miles revealed the independent review of the Games infrastructure was yet to begin.

LNP leader David Crisafulli declared the state government has been briefing stakeholders involved in the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that the $2.7 billion demolition and rebuild will likely be binned.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Premier made the commitment to review infrastructure deals for the 2032 Games soon after his ascension to state leader last month in a bid to increase transparency and squash growing resentment towards costs committed to hosting the event in the southeast.

But Mr Crisafulli said Mr Miles is already preparing to walk away from the costly rebuild, insisting the comments from the government to stakeholder groups “have been very very loud”.

Artist’s impression of the Gabba Stadium ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Source: Queensland Government

The Opposition Leader delivered the explosive allegation on Monday but refused to reveal which groups had been told of the plan or who in the government had flagged the decision to bin the complete redevelopment.

When pressed for details, Mr Crisafulli said: “I look forward to the Premier’s response on that but the drums have been very very loud.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The Opposition Leader was asked if this alluded to the Premier being the source of the news to stakeholders, but he again said: “I look forward to the Premier’s response.”

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace, whose portfolio in tasked with overseeing the delivery of Games infrastructure, dismissed the revelation from the Opposition Leader as a cheap ploy to spark division.

“We’ve already announced a review of Games infrastructure and will have more to say on this in the near future, and I’m not going to pre-empt any outcomes,” Ms Grace said.

“All David Crisafulli does is create division.

“We want the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be good for the region and good for the state, that’s what we’re aiming to achieve through this review.”

Renders of the Gabba Stadium ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Source: Queensland Government

Mr Miles had earlier revealed on ABC radio the review had not yet begun with the terms of reference for the independent probe currently being finalised.

Mr Crisafulli reaffirmed LNP’s commitment to follow through on the plan to deliver the Games if elected later this year - but the party opposes the knockdown of the Gabba.

“But the government has never taken Queenslanders on the journey, instead they’ve wasted 908 days and now we’re hearing they’re shopping around that they’re not going to proceed with the project that they’ve put their entire focus on,” the Opposition Leader said.

“The reason why Queensland is really distrusting of the state government is not because of the Olympic Games going ahead, it’s because the political games just haven’t stopped.”