‘No giant party’: Crisafulli on Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

After facing calls to pledge to dump the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has made clear where he stands.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says he will support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games should he become Premier - but says it cannot be about the city putting on a “giant party”.

The LNP leader has faced some calls to pledge to dump the Games altogether in the lead-up to the October election following the resignation of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – who was also the Minister for the Olympics.

Mr Crisafulli said the Games had his support, but should he become the state’s new Premier this year he would push for a renewed focus on the unlocking of future tourism opportunities and long-term infrastructure.

“My focus is on making sure that we deliver a world class Games, but it can’t just be about stadiums and a giant party,” he said.

“When the Olympics were proposed they were sold to Queenslanders on the basis of being a once-in-a-generation opportunity and bringing everybody together in one room to plan that generational infrastructure.

“There were figures used around the fact that the vast majority of sporting infrastructure would be existing – towards 90 per cent. That took a backseat as it all became about the state government and some sort of focus on the lavish affairs of the party.

“And that’s not what Queenslanders want.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Crisafulli said he would be “very firm” on his stance on the Games – and said he believed Queenslanders were concerned about the state government’s handling of Olympic and Paralympic plans, rather than hosting the Games altogether.

“Overwhelmingly, their concern with the Olympics is not over the opportunity that this can bring, it’s over the fact that a government is fixated on the wrong priorities,” he said.

“Things like stadiums and who’s going to get the best seat at the Opening Ceremony - that’s not my priority.

“My priority is making sure that we can get everyone in the room, and deliver generational road and rail projects, a 20-year tourism strategy, a fix to our communication issues – they’re all things that can come about if we get everybody in one room.”