Brisbane 2032: David Crisafulli rules out Victoria Park stadium

David Crisafulli has rejected the construction of any new stadiums for the 2032 Games, promising an independent review of venues but restricting what it can recommend.

• Opinion: Crisafulli stance a cop-out

David Crisafulli will not build a new Victoria Park stadium in Brisbane’s inner-city as recommended by an independent review, saying no new stadiums for the 2032 Games would happen under a government he leads.

Despite a $450,000 taxpayer-funded review analysing 900 submissions and declaring a new stadium at Victoria Park would offer the best value for money, the Opposition Leader on Thursday completely ruled it out.

His position follows that of Premier Steven Miles, who also rejected the independent advice and has pushed forward with a $1.6bn plan to revamp the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.

Instead, Mr Crisafulli promised to establish an independent delivery authority should he win the October election – but with a terms of reference which would restrict the authority’s recommendations to ensure no new stadiums.

Queensland Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli will also ignore the Quirk review’s recommendations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“I didn’t create this mess. We are here because for 1000 days the government has created a mess,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“Within 100 days, there will be a plan to deliver generational infrastructure done by the best and brightest with the clearest terms of reference to deliver a world class Games, but more importantly generational infrastructure.

“I’m giving Queenslanders a pathway to fix this mess.”

As well as no new stadiums, the authority would be charged with prioritising road and rail infrastructure, delivering a plan within the existing funding envelope, and “presenting legacy options for all Queenslanders”.

But Mr Crisafulli did not say where the Games could be held – the Gabba, QSAC, Carrara, or anywhere else – saying that would be up to the authority to investigate.

The Graham Quirk-led review recommended a new venue at Victoria Park. Pictured Supplied by ARCHIPELAGO

Asked why he would not go to the election with a broader scope and allow the independent authority to recommend the best plan without the limitations, Mr Crisafulli said it was not “what Queensland signed up to”.

“I haven’t seen a business case for it (Victoria Park). Queenslanders haven’t seen a business case,” he said.

“That (a new stadium) was never the agreement. The reason people signed on to this was generational infrastructure.”

The Premier has pushed forward with a $1.6bn plan to revamp the outer-suburb Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.

With an authority given 100 days to come up with a plan should the LNP win the October election, the deadline would push into February 2025 – more than three and a half years after Brisbane won the bid, and with just over seven years to go until the Games.

“I am confident we have the time to get this right,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“It was 1993 when (IOC boss) Juan Antonio Samaranch said those magic words Sydney and Australia jumped into the air.

“It wasn’t until 1995 that an independent coordination authority was put in place – and Sydney is regarded as one of the greatest games ever.

“It’s been done before, and it can be done today.”

Mr Crisafulli also ruled out cancelling the Games saying he was completely committed to Brisbane hosting the 2032 event.

“Oh my goodness – absolutely”, he said, when asked if he could assure the Games would not be cancelled.

“The risk to the Games remains a government that is desperate to do and say anything to cling to power, and can’t build things on time and on budget.

“The fact that Cabinet would discuss cancelling the Games nearly 1000 days after securing it, and then it leaked, tells you everything you need to know about a government that can’t be trusted and shouldn’t still be in office.”