‘Restore independence’: Calls for Olympics oversight to avoid Victorian style cancellation
Queensland’s in-house Olympics oversight body is actually “more transparent” than an independent version, according to the Premier, amid calls to put in place stronger transparency measures. VOTE IN THE POLL
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Queensland’s in-house Olympics oversight body is actually “more transparent” than an independent version according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk amid calls from senior Coalition MPs to put in place a stronger 2032 Games transparency measures.
The state government originally agreed to an independent oversight body but ultimately opted for an Olympics Co-ordination Office located in the Premier’s department and a leadership forum above that headed by the Premier.
Federal LNP frontbencher Ted O’Brien, who was the Morrison government’s special envoy on the Olympics, said having an independent body able to keep watch on investments would act as a guardrail against cost shocks.
“It’s one of the reasons the Coalition insisted on a 50-50 partnership with Queensland Labor for the 2032 Games, including the creation of an independent authority,” he said.
“(Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) needs to restore the independent oversight authority for the Olympic Games.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Wednesday said the Victorian government’s abandonment of the Games over cost blowout fears must serve as a wakeup call.
But Ms Palaszczuk, speaking after a 2032 Games breakfast on Thursday, said the structure of the oversight body had been “canvassed” and a report done by consultancy firm Deloitte plus the International Olympic Committee had signed off on it.
She said the structure in place would ensure transparency “because we’re answerable to parliament”.
“It’s actually more transparent,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Calls for Olympics oversight to avoid Victorian style cancellation
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games must have an independent oversight body to avoid cost blowouts and transparency issues that ultimately led to the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games being scrapped, senior Coalition MPs say.
But the Palaszczuk Government has stood firm in its decision to keep the oversight in house, saying there were better ways to spend taxpayer money than on more bureaucracy.
While the Palaszczuk Government originally agreed to an independent oversight body, it opted instead to have an Olympics Coordination Office located in the Premier’s department and a leadership forum above that headed by the Premier.
Federal LNP frontbencher Ted O’Brien, who was the Morrison Government’s special envoy on the Olympics, said having an independent body able to keep watch on investments would act as a guard rail against cost shocks.
“It’s one of the reasons the Coalition insisted on a 50-50 partnership with Queensland Labor for the 2032 Games, including the creation of an independent authority,” he said.
“(Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) needs to restore the independent oversight authority for the Olympic Games.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Wednesday said the Victorian Government’s abandonment of the Games over cost blowout fears must serve as a wakeup call.
He said the Palaszczuk Government could no longer dismiss calls for an independent infrastructure delivery authority.
“What we saw play out yesterday in Victoria has to be a wakeup call for every single state government in this country – it’s a big deal, not just for Victoria, but for our nation as a whole,” he said.
“It’s a wakeup call that the culture of cost overruns in Queensland has to end.”
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon rejected calls from the state Opposition for the external oversight body.
“Games partners have already agreed to the model that we’ve put forward,” Ms Scanlon said.
“We think the model being proposed by them will be costly and add another level of bureaucracy and, frankly, I’d rather see that money being spent on social housing.”
The Coalition and the Greens teamed up to create a Senate inquiry into the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, with the first hearing to be held in Brisbane on August 22.
Federal Opposition sports spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston said the Albanese Government needed to explain how this happened and what it meant for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“(Mr Albanese) has stood by and watched his mate Dan Andrews trash Australia’s international reputation,” Senator Ruston said.
Mr Albanese said the Brisbane Olympics were “certainly” going ahead, despite Victoria’s shock cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.
“I think everyone’s looking forward to the Brisbane Olympics (which) will be a very big deal,” he said.
“The planning is well underway there. I’ve met with Premier Palaszczuk many times. That’s a great global event.”
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