Annastacia Palaszczuk dismisses Gold Coast push to host Commonwealth Games
A push for the Gold Coast to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been dismissed by the Premier. It comes amid suggestions she should rethink hosting the 2032 Olympics.
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A push for the Gold Coast to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been shot down by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said the state is “focused on the Olympics”.
Following Victorian Premier Dan Andrews’ shock decision to withdraw the state’s bid to host the major event, business leaders called on Queensland to utilise its existing infrastructure to save the Games.
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said rural Victoria’s loss should be southeast Queensland’s gain calling Mr Andrews’ decision a “blessing in disguise”, and venues built during the city’s hosting of the 2018 Commonwealth Games could be used.
“If this is not at the front of their mind then I don’t know what is, because we are already 80 per cent of the way there with the venues,” he said.
“It would be a huge opportunity for a forward-thinking government to get behind and dovetail in a solution to the housing crisis.”
But the Premier appeared to rule out Queensland stepping in as host - while emphasising the shock decision would have no bearing on the plans for the Brisbane 2032 Games.
“In Queensland, our economic position is very good,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I’ve had people say to me ‘can we run the Commonwealth Games?’.
“Well, no we can’t, because we’re focused on the Olympics.
“And any extra money, we have to put into issues like social housing.”
Deputy Premier Steven Miles also said it was “highly unlikely” Queensland would pitch to host the Commonwealth Games, saying the government was “focused on 2032.
Olympics powerbroker John Coates told The Courier-Mail he didn’t think Queensland should pitch to host the 2026 event, and “politically, it won’t happen”.
“Our focus is on the (2032) Games, we’ve had a 10-11 year runway and we don’t want to upset our plans.”
But the Queensland Greens seized on the news Victoria had abandoned the Commonwealth Games over cost blowout fears, and called on Ms Palaszczuk to “seriously consider” whether Brisbane should be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
South Brisbane MP Amy MacMahon – who has been a staunch opponent of the Games – said Mr Andrews’ comments about the huge cost were an acknowledgment of the burden on the taxpayer.
“The Palaszczuk Labor government needs to now seriously consider whether they are going to go ahead with the 2032 Games,” she said
“What we’re seeing is an acknowledgment from Victorian Labor that these mega-events cost taxpayers far, far more than the government budgets for, without the promised benefits.
“This is an acknowledgment that events like the Commonwealth and Olympic Games come at a huge cost to housing, public services, schools and hospitals – a cost that burdens cities and states for decades after.”
Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter also used the news to “read the room and cancel the Games”.
“Queenslanders do not want the better part of $20 billion spent on preparing and hosting these Games,” he said.
“That figure is where our rough estimates sit based on 2023 costs; we cannot fathom what this number will look like in nine years’ time.”
Gold Coast acting mayor Donna Gates said it was “ludicrous” to expect the city to pick up the Commonwealth Games baton dropped by Victoria “with just a couple of years to go”.
Ms Gates said facilities built for the “very successful” 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Coast, including the athletes village at Southport, were fully tenanted and occupied, and cost of living pressures was the major focus of all levels of government, including local councils.
“Our focus needs to be our ratepayers and looking after their needs, as well as the 2032 Olympics,” she said.
Gold Coast Commonwealth Games chair and former Premier Peter Beattie also said the state shouldn’t host the event in 2026 - and the focus needed to be on 2032.
“The only state government in Australia that’s got deep pockets is basically the Western Australian government … whether they pick it up, it’s really a matter for them,” Mr Beattie said.
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