Tear up $7bn Brisbane Games infrastructure deal, drop Gabba rebuild, Greens urge

As the Greens demand the $7bn Olympics infrastructure deal be torn up and rewritten, the debate turned fiery with personal barbs flying across the chamber.

The Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics infrastructure agreement urgently needs to be renegotiated to prioritise existing stadiums such as Carrara over the Gabba, Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather has demanded, pointing to previous Olympics and Victoria’s Commonwealth Games cost blowouts.

But Labor’s Moreton MP Graham Perrett said 85 per cent of Olympics facilities were already in existence, while the Gabba needed upgrades including women’s change rooms and wheelchair access.

The debate quickly turned personal, with Mr Perrett referring to the Greens MP as someone who “flies to Canberra to complain about airport noise”, while Mr Chandler-Mather accused him of “making light” of families at East Brisbane State School, which will be moved to make way for the Gabba redevelopment.

Labor’s Moreton MP Graham Perrett. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Mr Chandler-Mather claimed that while the Gabba was currently slated to cost $2.7bn, the average cost blowout of an Olympic Games was 2.5 times the original cost, which would see it reach $6.7bn.

He moved a motion demanding the federal government “drop its support for the disastrous Gabba demolition and rebuild”, renegotiate the $7bn infrastructure deal with the state government to prioritise existing infrastructure like Carrara Stadium.

“In light of the recent decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, it is abundantly clear now that the federal government must renegotiate the Olympics infrastructure deal with Queensland,” Mr Chandler-Mather said.

“The joke of it is, that this is going to have a long-term benefit for Brisbane.

“Right now, the benefit is the destruction of a public school, the destruction of a public park and years of disruption.”

Artist’s impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment. Picture: Supplied

Mr Perrett said while the federal government was not funding the Gabba redevelopment, instead fully funding the Brisbane Arena at Roma St, the stadium was in need of accessibility and equality upgrades.

“Having to see someone in a wheelchair use the service lift isn’t acceptable in 2023 and certainly won’t be acceptable in 2032,” Mr Perrett said.

“Nor is a major sports stadium not having dedicated change rooms and facilities for women.

“The green Games will deliver an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the state as a world-class tourist and business destination and is also a chance to promote Queensland’s arts sector.”

The state and federal governments agreed to a $7bn co-funded infrastructure deal in February this year, after about eight months of talks.