Editorial: Politicians to blame for Brisbane Olympics false start

Former Labor premiers somehow managed to lead the state for 3½ years without making a start on Olympic venues, writes the editor.

Too much time was wasted under Steven Miles and Annastacia Palaszczuk.

It is not the fault of Brisbane 2032 Games organisers that we have had to tell the International Olympic Committee it has to break Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter and give us another year to figure out which sports will be contested here.

This embarrassing mess is totally the fault of our state politicians, particularly former premiers Steven Miles and Annastacia Palaszczuk, who somehow managed to lead the state for 3½ years after we won the bid while not deploying a single shovel in anger.

The fact that we are now still six days away from learning the latest – let us hope, final – iteration of how we plan to host the world’s best elite athletes in just seven years is a disgrace. It shows the ineptitude of the Labor administration that was unsurprisingly unceremoniously turfed from office last October.

When the IOC voted to grant us the Games on July 21, 2021, there were 4020 days until the Opening Ceremony. Today, there are just 2684 days to go. Come Saturday, we will have wasted exactly one-third of the time we were given!

Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris has done his best to put a positive spin on the mess by saying the delay means decisions on Olympic sports will now be made in parallel with the Paralympics, but he must be apoplectic in private.

Premier David Crisafulli will unveil the latest plan on Tuesday. Time now means we have no choice but to accept it and get out a shovel.

GET SERIOUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

Five years ago Australia effectively shut down as the fightback against the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Schools and businesses closed. Trains and buses stopped running. Gatherings outside small family groups were outlawed.

The wearing of masks and the use of hand sanitiser became mandatory. And when we were let out of our houses we had to log our movements and check-in using a government app.

While many still debate the efficacy and the morality of our war against Covid, what it did prove is that when governments decide to get serious in a public health emergency, anything is possible.

Which brings us to Australia’s current mental health crisis. And while we would never suggest any actions like the draconian measures that were actually detrimental to the mental health of millions, it is time we got serious.

Australia’s largest suicide prevention service provider Lifeline has just had its busiest 12 months on record, with more than 1.1 million calls and almost 295,000 texts and chats for help.

Research undertaken by The Courier-Mail and Medibank is equally alarming. It shows;

MORE than half of Australians have wanted to reach out to someone to discuss their mental wellbeing but didn’t;

GEN Z and millennials are the most stressed out generations;

FORTY per cent of Australians reported feeling stressed weekly or more and 34 per cent battle burnout; and,

ALMOST two thirds of 18-30 year olds say they would find it hard to tell older close family members they were having challenges with mental wellbeing.

It is alarming results like these, as well as our reporting on mental health over the last few years, that have prompted The Courier-Mail to partner with Medibank in launching the Can We Talk campaign.

While promoting awareness of mental health issues, the campaign will also push for extra support from all levels of government. With an federal election looming, it’s a good time to ramp up this conversation. We would love to see the major parties bringing new ideas, and more cash, to the table.

Mental health conditions represent 15 per cent of the health burden in Australia, second only to cancer, yet only receive 8 per cent of government health funding.

Mental health expert and former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry says we are at a crisis point as a nation.

“It is imperative that we act now, or the ramifications will be felt for generations to come,” the Orygen executive director said.

It is particularly alarming that our research highlighted the reticence that young people feel about discussing mental health.

It is something that has to change – and that can only happen by normalising talking about mental health issues.

Today, Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Shayna Jack bravely talks about her mental health struggles.

They range from a crisis when the whole world seemed to be against her – after she was banned from swimming for unintentional doping – to her recent emotional struggles after her beloved dog Hugo was put down.

But by talking about her issues so openly and honestly she has done her bit in helping to remove the stigma around talking about mental health issues, particularly for young people. And for that Shayna, we thank you.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here