‘Silly money’ paid by Qld to secure Origin season opener

Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled NSW as a bunch of incessant whingers after Queensland secured the hosting rights for State of Origin I in a secret deal, as the official capacity for the game is revealed.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled NSW as a bunch of incessant whingers after Queensland secured the hosting rights for State of Origin I at the eleventh hour.

And, while her government is refusing to reveal how much securing Townsville’s historic State of Origin series opener cost taxpayers, she insists the deal will deliver value for money.

It comes amid revelations from NSW government sources that the Queensland government could have spent more than $8m to secure the sporting spectacle.

Ms Palaszczuk on Tuesday accused NSW of incessant “whinging” as she defended the secret cost of bringing the State of Origin to Townsville as “value for money”.

Ms Palaszczuk again refused to detail how much Queenslanders had paid to bring the game north, because “that’s commercial in confidence”.

Asked if it was about $8 million, she remained tightlipped.

Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing that Game I of State of Origin will be played in Townsville. Picture: Josh Woning

“I am not revealing any details,” she said.

“I understand NSW are whinging and you’d understanding that from NSW.

“They’re good at whinging and that’s all I ever hear from NSW.”

Instead, she lauded the benefits of holding the game in regional Queensland for the first time.

“This is value for money,” she said.

“We are going to see people go and celebrate an historic State of Origin game next Wednesday from Mt Isa, Cairns, the Torres Strait, Mackay, Townsville, all across regional Queensland will come and celebrate that State of Origin, which will be historically played in Townsville for the first time ever.

“And the benefits that will bring into the local economy is going to be flowing (sic).”

Townsville’s historic State of Origin match will be limited to 27,000 fans due to the short time frame to have everything ready for next Wednesday’s epic clash.

About 2000 temporary seats will be trucked in to Queensland Country Bank Stadium to swell the regular capacity of 25,000, but it is expected that footy fanatics would have almost doubled that figure with more temporary seating at the stadium’s open end.

However, Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the short time frame meant it would only be possible to erect about 2000 seats between now and game day.

The equipment used to construct the temporary grandstands will be transported by road by Clifton Productions on the Gold Coast, which was heavily involved in the city’s Commonwealth Games.

Queensland Country Bank Stadium will host a historic State of Origin fixture. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Treasurer Cameron Dick also refused to say whether the government spent less than the $7m that’s expected to be pumped into the local economy.

“Every cent we’ve spent securing Origin I is a cent well spent for Queensland and you can’t underestimate the value of this to north Queensland, not just the economic impact but the social and cultural and sporting impact of having this iconic sporting game held in the north of our state,” he said.

Pressed on whether the government spent less than $7m, Mr Dick said he wasn’t going to tell competitor states what Queensland forked out.

“Every dollar we’ve spent is a dollar that we’re proud to have spent to support north Queensland,” he said.

Mr Dick said NSW whinged every time it lost.

“Whether it be on the footy field or whether it be in any other competition with Queensland,” he said.

“These are just the words of a bunch of sore losers.”

The Premier on Monday said she understood the match would inject over $7m into Townsville’s local economy.

“But it’s going to be a lot more … because we’re going to have people from all around the region coming into Townsville,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a spare room left in anyone’s house when it comes to State of Origin on June the 9th.

“This is about backing regional Queensland and we got value for money.”

NSW government sources confirmed its state refused to match the figure the Sunshine State offered to secure match one on the basis it could not be justified to the taxpayer.

Various reports of the deal struck by Queensland to clinch the match valued it between $6 million and $8 million, but the NSW sources were adamant the figure was closer to $8.3 million.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville would be packed to the brim.

“I really want to thank the NRL,” she said.

“I know this has been tough, especially with what’s happening down in Melbourne.

“But honestly, there is no better place than Queensland and it’s going to be fantastic that it’s going to be held in Townsville.”

NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres yesterday said: “I’m all for major events but we have to be responsible with taxpayers’ money and what Queensland had paid the NRL is truly silly money”.