New woman joins Olympics board after mayor’s drink-driving departure

A secret ballot has determined who will replace Redlands mayor Karen Williams on the Olympics committee following her drink-driving admission last week.

Noosa mayor Clare Stewart will join Brisbane’s powerful Olympic Games Organising Committee following a secret ballot of southeast Queensland mayors on Friday morning.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Ms Stewart will join Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner as the two local government representatives on the board after the resignation of Redlands mayor Karen Williams due to a drink-driving incident last week.

Mr Schrinner said he had advised board President Andrew Liveris Ms Stewart had secured the support of Council of Mayors Southeast Queensland to represent south east Queensland councils on the organising committee.

“I have been in touch with Mr Liveris who is excited to welcome the Mayor and looks

forward to working with her into the future,” Mr Schrinner said.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart will join the Olympics board.

“Regional collaboration is a team sport and this is a great example of the Councils who

worked together to secure the Games continuing to work together as a team in the interest

of our region and its communities.

“SEQ Councils will play an important role during the Games, and I’m looking forward to

working with Mayor Stewart to ensure they are an active part of the region’s 2032 journey.”

The selection of Ms Stewart is somewhat unexpected.

Mr Schrinner last year was understood to be considering Ms Williams and Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding to join him on the board.

The Lord Mayor has been pushed to select a female mayor to achieve the board’s gender equity requirements.

Ms Stewart said she was honoured to represent her colleagues on the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee.

“The region’s Mayors pursued the Games as the catalyst to bring forward the infrastructure

and transport needed to support our region’s record growth,” she said.

“Ensuring we deliver on this commitment to our communities will continue to be a priority for us.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has this week pushed for a position on the board, however he is not a member of the southeast Queensland Council of Mayors and was not on Friday morning’s ballot.

Mr Schrinner has previously said Mr Tate was welcome to rejoin the Council of Mayors.

Mr Tate said he was “simply lost for words” over the “snub”.

“Clare represents a great part of Queensland,’’ said Mr Tate.

“I understand Noosa will provide four venues for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics and have several sporting events - football, basketball, marathon, mountain biking, cycling and kiteboarding.

“Today, the Gold Coast has no elected official on the Olympics Board despite our city providing more council-owned venues for 2032 than Brisbane, or any other co-host city.

“It’s important to understand that most of the main venues in Brisbane are state-owned venues so in real terms, the Gold Coast has more skin-in-the-game than Brisbane yet we have no elected official on the SEQ Board.”

Cr Tate said the Coast’s only representative was business identity Rebecca Frizelle who was “”a great ambassador … cannot make decisions at board level that impact ratepayers’.

“Only an elected official can do that and I would have thought it would be prudent to have myself, as Mayor, or my Deputy Mayor (Donna Gates), on the SEQ Board,” he said.

“I’m simply lost for words as to why the Lord Mayor seems determined to snub the Gold Coast and I can only leave it with him to comment.’’

Mr Tate said the recent visit from International Olympic Committee officials left the IOC with “an incredible response towards our city’’.

“They loved what they saw so this news may be a setback for some of the IOC officials,’’ he said.

“I know Queenslanders want politics to be kept out of sport but it appears that’s not the case.’’

Mr Tate said the coast would continue to directly lobby State Government ministers and the Federal Government to achieve maximum legacy outcomes for the city.

“One thing the Gold Coast does well is ensure its voice is heard where it is needed,” he said.