State, feds call ceasefire in war over Olympics influence

New landmark legislation to be introduced this week will see both the state and federal governments have their say on its make-up.

Landmark legislation to establish Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games organising committee will be introduced this week as the state and Commonwealth reach an agreement on its make-up.

The Courier-Mail can reveal under the legislation the Prime Minister and Premier will jointly appoint five independent directors to the committee in addition to four personal selections each.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

A previous version of the legislation would have given Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk the power to appoint nine directors to the committee through her new role as Olympics Minister.

However, the state government is set to revert to an original agreement struck with the Commonwealth where Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Ms Palaszczuk would agree on five independent directors.

The change came after LNP MP Ted O’Brien, Mr Morrison’s special envoy on the Olympics, threatened to urge the Prime Minister to withdraw from the $5bn Games partnership deal amid concerns about a power imbalance in favour of Ms Palaszczuk.

Mr O’Brien was internally reprimanded over his comments, but it is understood they led to an escalation in negotiations between the state and Commonwealth.

Olympics envoy MP Ted O'Brien.

It is understood discussions are ongoing between the two levels of government about the delivery of infrastructure for the Olympics.

The Premier’s office did not respond to questions about whether the legislation would reflect the original agreement struck with the Commonwealth, but said the draft proposal “has been circulated among our partners for feedback”.

Sport Minister Richard Colbeck said the federal government had provided feedback “to ensure the bill reflects the genuine 50/50 partnership agreed between the Premier and the Prime Minister”.

“We continue to work with Queensland and the other games partners to ensure we get this important foundation right,” he said.

Brisbane’s 2032 Games will be the first under the International Olympic Committee’s mandate that cities must hold “climate positive” events.

Ms Palaszczuk said the government was working towards the IOC’s goal, which was introduced in March 2020 and had been a pillar of Brisbane’s bid.

At the time IOC President Thomas Bach declared climate change was “a challenge of unprecedented proportions, and it requires an unprecedented response”.

From 2030 onwards, each city’s organising committee will be required to go beyond the current obligation of reducing and compensating carbon emissions directly related to their operations.