Brisbane Olympics: State’s ‘frightening’ Games progress blasted by former sports minister Richard Colbeck

The Palaszczuk government’s lack of progress since winning the 2032 Olympic Games has been declared ‘frightening’ by a key figure in the successful bid.

The man who stood alongside Annastacia Palaszczuk in Tokyo as Brisbane was named host city of the 2032 Olympic Games has unleashed on the state government and declared its progress one year since winning the event was “frightening”.

Former sports minister Richard Colbeck has issued a stunning warning, calling for the Albanese government to follow-through on the former Morrison government’s agreement to establish an independent authority to build Queensland Olympic Games infrastructure.

Senator Colbeck, who was instrumental in winning the Games and travelled to Tokyo for the announcement before being booted off the 2032 organising committee after the Coalition’s election defeat, said an independent authority was critical to protect taxpayers from the “scandal-ridden Queensland government”.

It has been reported the Palaszczuk government is considering using its existing departments and public servants to deliver Games-related infrastructure, rather than an independent body agreed to by the Morrison government in return for its 50-50 funding commitment.

“We know Queensland desperately does not want the discipline and oversight of this agency, but, as we’ve seen in recent weeks, there is a genuine need for proper control of spending and decisions relating to the delivery of the games’ sporting infrastructure,” he said.

Former sports Minister Richard Colbeck. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Just this week, reports came of proposed changes to venues that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars extra, with the Commonwealth on the hook for 50 per cent of that.”

Senator Colbeck declared it “frightening” Education Minister Grace Grace had revealed the Palaszczuk government was “still stabbing in the dark” about how it would redevelop The Gabba – Queensland’s premier Olympic venue.

“These Olympics will be a powerhouse for the country, with thousands of jobs and significant investment but let’s not lose sight of sound planning and prudent investment in the lead-up,” he said.

The blistering attack on the government he previously worked hand-in-glove with to win the Games marks the end of a reluctant partnership between the Morrison and Palaszczuk governments over the Olympics.

Senator Colbeck’s comments were put to the state government which, through a government spokesman, called for unity.

“A hallmark of the Queensland Olympic story is the close co-operation of all levels of government,” he said.

Senator Colbeck noted the Olympics were only going ahead in Brisbane because the Commonwealth agreed to fund half of the sporting infrastructure costs.

“The Queensland government said they would not bid unless we did,” he said.

As former Aged Care Minister, the Senator himself came under fire after it was revealed he attended The Ashes in Hobart in January instead of a Senate committee meeting about the Covid-19 response.

In 2020, he was also unable to tell a Senate inquiry how many nursing home residents had died from Covid, instead relying on a department official to provide the number.