A top Queensland government bureaucrat is being grilled over the Olympic stadium debacle as the senate hearing into the 2032 Games continues in Brisbane. FOLLOW OUR BLOG
The Senate inquiry into whether Queensland is prepared to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 is sitting in Brisbane today.
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Olympic gold-medalist and Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieran Perkins is now up giving evidence.
He is joined by federal and Department of Health and Aged Care heads Blair Exell, Travis Haslam, Neccia Fisher and Bill Brummitt via teleconference.
Mr Perkins is asked whether the ASC was involved in the Quirk review – he says it was not.
Mr Fraine says he can't recall exactly who asked the department to investigate the QSAC option when it became clear the Quirk review had rejected it.
Senator McKenzie is incredulous at this response, asking was it Minister Grace, the Premier or his office.
Mr Fraine cannot recall, and neither can Ms Kelly.
"No-one can remember?" Senator McKenzie asks.
"It would have been someone higher than you (as Director-General) – wouldn't be many people in that category."
Mr Fraine is now being asked about Mr Edwards’ evidence, and whether there was any plans for a cost-benefit analysis on Victoria Park to be undertaken. He says no.
Senator Colbeck is now asking about the board process for the independent authority. Mr Fraine says he would hope it to be completed by mid-year.
Bit of back and forth now between Senator Colbeck and Mr Fraine about the new co-ordination authority being set-up – and just who will actually be in charge.
"Whose backside is in the sling at the end of the day?" Senator Colbeck asks.
"Is it the Minister? The Premier? There's got to be a point – who signs it in ink?"
Mr Fraine says the board will make a recommendation and discuss it with the relevant stakeholders – an answer Senator Colbeck appears unhappy with.
He says he understands that, but wants to know who is "last in the queue" to say yes or no.
Mr Fraine says he understands, with regards to venues it would be – in the current government – State Development Minister Grace Grace.
Mr Fraine is being questioned by Senator Ruston what the Legacy Committee has been doing.
"We've lost three years of legacy opportunity in three years because we haven't done anything," she says.
"What has been recommended in the delivery of legacy in terms of pre-Games."
Mr Fraine points to the youfor2032 program out identifying talent as well as the Go for Gold campaign.
Mr Fraine has told the inquiry the department began exploring the QSAC option after it became clear that the Quirk review was going to recommend a new stadium.
"When the government understood this is where the panel was headed, it asked us to have a look,' he said.
"We knew the panel had had a look at QSAC and come to a view, we knew through the input of the IOC and Mr Coates, they had a view.
"They asked us to have a look … given the concerns the government had with a new $3.4bn stadium."
But pressed on what report was being relied on to agree to the QSAC option, Mr Fraine said the project validation report was now being completed.
"Aren’t we shooting first and asking questions later?" Mr Canavan asks, saying it seems the government is committing more than $1.4bn without any costings.
"That's the purpose of the final PVR," Mr Fraine says, adding it will be complete this year.
He is asked how much the report will cost – which he takes on notice.
There's no Premier or politicians, but the time has come for the state government representatives to face the Senators at today's inquiry.
Up first is Department of State Development and Infrastructure Director-General Graham Fraine, Department of State Development and Infrastructure Deputy Director-General Leah Kelly, Department of Transport and Main Roads Director-General Sally Stannard, and Stadiums Queensland chief executive Todd Harris.
Senator Canavan asks about the transport issues with QSAC – Ms Atkinson says she doesn’t see it being a problem.
“This was the great thing about the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane – we didn’t have these facilities, we got the Commonwealth Government to pay for them, thank you very much. So we can do anything," she says.
She ends her session by telling the panel the Opening Ceremony will be held on her 90th birthday.
"You should light the flame!" says Senator McKenzie.
With Ms Atkinson finished we're moving on to the state government representatives.
Ms Atkinson is now explaining why she supports the QSAC option.
“First of all it’s there, it exists and there is land around it,” she says. “It’s not all that far out of the city.
“I just makes sense to me, maybe because it’s there. I haven’t seen the detail of what’s required to be done.
“I’ve never like the idea of the Gabba. East Brisbane State School is a very important heritage building, and there aren’t enough of them in Brisbane.”
Ms Atkinson begins by acknowledging the comments made earlier today by both Mr Quirk and Mr Coates – noting they had both worked for her.
"I taught them everything they know," she jokes.
She goes on to say while she is opposed to the Victoria Park option on principle, not wanting to see parkland lost, she has an "open mind".
"If it can be built and not destroy parkland, I've got an open mind until all the facts are in," she says.
"I don’t think we should be panicking; I know we’ve been waffling around, but most cities do it in five or six years."
Ms Atkinson says the best thing would be for the sports ministers and the Lord Mayor to just sit down and have a proper discussion.
Senator Colbeck and Mr Soorley have clashed over whether Brisbane was the only city wanting the 2032 Games.
"We didn't win the Games, no one else wanted them," he says.
"You weren't there, I was .. and that's not true," Mr Colbeck says.
Mr Soorley and Mr Newman have finished their evidence.
Former Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson is up next.
The cause of a 90km/h ‘microburst’ storm that hit Brisbane suburbs has been revealed - and why it’s something you’d normally see in the Outback.
The clean-up will continue today after homes and cars were damaged and power cut to thousands after a freak storm hit Brisbane’s east.