Qld accused of ‘buying report’ in fiery response to Olympics saga

Claims that the Brisbane 2032 Games did not need an independent oversight authority because it wouldn’t need as many new facilities as previous host cities has triggered a fiery response before a Senate inquiry.

Claims that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games did not need an independent oversight authority because it would not need as many new facilities as the Sydney or London Games triggered a fiery response, with Coalition Senators pointing to the events $7 billion price tag.

Consultants Deloitte appeared before the Senate inquiry into the Brisbane Olympics and 2026 Commonwealth Games, and strongly rejected suggestions from Coalition Senators that the Queensland Government had simply “bought” a report with a favourable recommendation to scrap the independent oversight body.

The Palaszczuk Government controversially announced earlier this year it would scrap the independent authority and replace it with a body within the Premier’s department with oversight by a leadership forum.

It was also revealed the arrangement has a two-year sunset clause, at which point the situation will be reviewed.

The inquiry heard Deloitte’s contract with the Department of Premier and Cabinet was worth about $700,000 and had three parts, one of which was the report into governance arrangements.

Deloitte asked the Department of Premier and Cabinet if they could table the full report, but was informed that the document remained Cabinet-in-confidence.

Deloitte Australia Access Economics lead partner Dr Pradeep Philip.

Deloitte senior partner Pradeep Philip, who wrote the report, said while the original bid documents did reference an Olympic Coordination Authority, “it did not proscribe the powers of it, nor that it must be independent”.

“One difference between the Brisbane Olympic Games and Sydney and London is that Sydney and London required a lot of infrastructure to be built,” Mr Philip said.

“A lot of venues, a lot of facilities had to be built. Structures for that, versus a different model that doesn’t require as much infrastructure to be built could lead to different governance structures.”

Mr Philip said the recommendations had been supported by the Games partners, as well as the Australian Olympic Committee.

Senator Richard Colbeck during a Senate hearing into Australia’s Preparedness to Host Commonwealth Olympic and Paralympic Games. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

But Liberal Senator and former Sports Minister Richard Colbeck said venues for the Brisbane 2032 event were already costing $7 billion, $3.4 billion of which would be paid for by the Commonwealth.

“$7 billion worth of infrastructure is a fair whack. The discipline of an organisation that goes to the delivery of that... during the bid process was extremely important,” Senator Colbeck said.

“I find it extremely curious that the Queensland Government commissioned a report that reinforces its view that we don’t need one (and independent authority).

“Was the Queensland Government just buying a report to government it wanted?”

Mr Philip strongly rejected the allegation and said both he and Deloitte had a reputation for providing independent advice.

“Our brand is built on providing objective, independent analysis,” he said.

“Some of my clients will tell you I provide advice that they don’t like.

“$7 billion is a lot of money and I’m in no way saying it’s insignificant.”

He said after two years, the governance processes would be reviewed to ensure that it could be changed if needed.

Tabled documents revealed that Deloitte’s contract required it to consider a model which “leverages existing arrangements and minimises duplication”.

NRL calls for Qld stadium upgrade

Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium would be excluded from a potential Australian bid for the 2034 Men’s Football World Cup unless it is upgraded, sparking calls for it to be upgraded as part of the Brisbane Olympics.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson and NRL executive Jaymes Boland-Rudder joined calls for high-performance training facilities to be built or existing facilities to be upgraded for the Olympic Games, to be used by their sports as part of the 2032 Olympic legacy.

Mr Johnson said Townsville Stadium was currently set to host soccer Games as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

But he said it would have to be excluded from Football Australia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup, which requires 40,000 seat stadiums for group stage matches, while Townsville has just 25,000 seats.

“Queensland would also be the perfect place for a high-performance training venue for the 2034 World Cup,” Mr Johnson said.

“Queensland is the only state that doesn’t have a high-performance training venue.”

He said this would involve high-quality pitches, gyms and places for physiotherapists to work.

Mr Boland-Rudder said high-performance training facilities would be valuable for NRL teams like the Dolphins or Gold Coast Titans.

“The Dolphins current facilities, we would say, aren’t up to standard within the NRL competition, let alone for a visiting team,” he said.

Mr Boland-Rudder said if the state and federal governments were to invest in these facilities, they could be used by the NRL on the understanding that visiting nations and teams would be granted access in the lead up to and during the Olympics.

He reiterated the NRL’s previous calls for Suncorp Stadium to be upgraded before 2032, suggesting works on connectivity, LED signage, hospitality and seats.

Comm Games boss backs joint UK-Qld event

A joint Commonwealth Games between the Gold Coast and Birmingham would be a satisfactory outcome, the head of Commonwealth Games Australia has revealed.

It follows the idea of a joint Games, to salvage the 2026 event after it was abruptly cancelled by Victoria earlier this year, being proposed by business identities Gina Rinehart and Katie Page and backed by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

Commonwealth Games Australia boss Craig Phillips confirmed on Friday a joint solution between jurisdictions, either states or even other countries, would be considered if it helped the Games go ahead.

“We’d support a solution that looks after the needs of our athletes from around the Commonwealth,” he told a Senate inquiry into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

“Ideally, that anointed host is an Australian solution. But if the best solution is one that combines a joint effort between Australia and the UK or Australia and New Zealand, or Australia and anywhere else, or if the Games has to go offshore … from our perspective we need a Games for our athletes.”

Mr Phillips said he had met with Cr Tate and a representative from the Gold Coast City Council, a meeting sought by the Mayor, and it remained the only meeting with a state or city leader he had held with regards to finding a new host.

Fireworks erupt over the Alexander Stadium during the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

“The model needs to be decided before we go and talk to governments. And the distribution of the settlement funds ($356 million from Victoria for cancelling its bid) is a key part of that,” he said.

“We don’t want to rush to a ‘no’. We want to make sure we’re ready before we start having conversations with governments.

“We haven’t developed the model enough. Governments are going to want to know what it’s going to mean for a city, what it’s going to cost, what their obligations are.”

He said they expected the distribution of settlement funds and development of the model should be determined within weeks, while he hoped to have a final solution to take to the general assembly of Commonwealth Games Federation in Singapore in November.

Opposition sports spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Opposition sports spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston said she was concerned there had been no meeting with Sports Minister Anika Wells, given the “incredible damage” the cancellation of the Games had on Australia’s reputation.

“I’m concerned about the lack of urgency to find a solution here. The fact that you haven’t met with the Minister, the Minister hasn’t reached out to you,” she said.

“Prior to the decision we were concerned about the ability for Australia to put on a Commonwealth Games. Some months have gone past and we’re still having this conversation.”