Karl Stefanovic and Cate Campbell tear Queensland government to shreds over Olympic farce
Karl Stefanovic and Cate Campbell have launched a blistering attack on the Queensland government over the 2032 Olympics stadium farce.
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Olympian Cate Campbell and Today host Karl Stefanovic have unleashed on the Queensland government over the billion-dollar Brisbane Olympics stadium bungle.
Premier Steven Miles has come under fire over the decision to ignore an independent review, which recommended a $3.4 billion, 55,000-seat venue be built in Brisbane’s inner-north at Victoria Park.
The government will instead spend billions upgrading the dilapidated Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (QSAC) temporarily for the Olympics.
The boutique 40,000 seat stadium would be the smallest athletics venue since the since the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, 104 years ago.
A fired-up Campbell told Stefanovic that the proposal was “simply not good enough” and accused the Queensland government of playing politics with the Games.
“I just think that this is a case of politics getting in the way of progress,” she said.
“I mean, this review cost $450,000,” she said.
“I know that the Premier is talking about cost of living and not wanting to spend things, but you’ve just spent $450,000 on a review, when you had a perfectly good action plan.”
Campbell said the 2032 Games should be a showcase event and had the potential to transform Brisbane on a global scale if done properly.
Stefanovic said he “100 per cent agreed”.
“The Olympics is the event and they’re ballsing it up completely,” he said.
Campbell said Brisbane’s dated stadium options are why Queensland had not attracted major events like other Australian cities.
“We’ve had Taylor Swift say that no, she’s not coming to Queensland because there’s not enough stadiums to host her and we have Coldplay going to Perth because they have more venues than south east Queensland does, and it’s just simply not good enough,” she said.
Campbell pleaded with the Queensland government to re-evaluate its Olympic strategy.
“We have an opportunity to put Brisbane on the world stage both for sporting events,” she said.
“But also international entertainment events that I think is being missed because politicians are short sighted and thinking of their own personal gains rather than what is best for southeast Queensland.”