LNP names John-Paul Langbroek as Olympics spokesman

The Opposition has named its Olympics spokesman and challenged Labor to allow it to join a delegation headed to Switzerland to next month to meet with the IOC about Queensland’s 2032 Games bid.

QUEENSLAND’S LNP Opposition have created a new shadow Cabinet position focusing on the 2032 Olympic Games bid.

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington has also challenged Labor to include the Opposition in the planning of the Games bid including as part of a delegation heading to Switzerland to meet with the IOC next month.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Ms Frecklington has scrapped the Opposition’s Commonwealth Games portfolio, currently held by frontbencher John-Paul Langbroek, and created a new Olympics portfolio for him instead.

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“I believe in our bid and that’s why I’ve made John-Paul Langbroek the LNP’s Shadow Olympics Minister,” Ms Frecklington said.

“The 2032 Games are a long way off and that means our bid must be supported by a cross-party partnership.

“I’m asking Annastacia Palaszczuk to put politics aside and work with the LNP to bring the Olympics to our great state.”

Queensland state Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

She last night penned a letter to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk advising her of the change and requesting Mr Langbroek be invited to attend next month’s Olympics trip.

“I believe the magnitude of the Games’ bid warrants clear Cabinet responsibility and accountability,” Ms Frecklington wrote.

“Given this appointment, and to demonstrate bipartisan support, I request you include Mr Langbroek in the Queensland delegation for the meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach on September 10, 2019.

“The Games are more than a decade away and demonstrating to the IOC that both sides of parliament are backing the event will give our bid long-term stability.

“The bid will only be a success if it is backed by the broadest political foundations.”

The move comes almost 16 months after the Commonwealth Games.

Prime Minster Scott Morrison (right) with (left to right) Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tourism Minister Kate Jones. Picture: AAP/Brian Cassey

Ms Palaszczuk is yet to remove the Commonwealth Games portfolio from her Cabinet.

But the Premier revealed this week that the Minister Kate Jones has been asked to assist with investigating the cost of an Olympic bid.

Her assistance was announced as part of a united taskforce of council, state and federal backers formed to take a preliminary proposal to Games bosses at next month’s meeting.

Using a bid to fast-track infrastructure was at the top of the action plan delivered in The Courier-Mail’s Future Tourism campaign in June.