Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Big names facing axe from Games board

Some of Queensland’s biggest names are set to be axed from the organising committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics.

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris has been working with the International Olympic Committee on the proposed changes.

Some of Queensland’s biggest names are set to be axed from the organising committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics.

Nine of the coveted positions on the powerful committee will say goodbye under legislative changes to slash the number of directors from 24 to 15 in response to a recommendation in the government’s 100-day Olympic review.

It can be revealed the 15 new proposed positions will include an independent president (Andrew Liveris), one state and one federal nominee (currently deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie and federal Sport Minister Anika Wells), and three council nominees, likely to be the mayors of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

It will also include Australian-based representatives of both the International Olympic Committee (kayak gold medallist Jessica Fox) and the International Paralympics Committee Robyn Smith.

The current presidents of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Committees (Ian Chesterman and Alison Creagh) will remain on the board, along with two nominees from our recent Paralympian and Olympian teams - currently cyclist Georgia Baker and wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley.

Golfing great Greg Norman

There is a spot retained for the honorary life president of the Australian Olympic Committee, who is John Coates.

And then there is only space for two independent directors.

That means directors including Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott, Chemist Warehouse boss Brett Clark, Gold Coast-based businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle and golfing great Greg Norman are included in those on the chopping block.

It is understood Mr Liveris has been working with the International Olympic Committee on the proposed changes.

Olympic and Paralympic Games and Sport Minister Tim Mander said: “We’ve listened to the experts who have been clear through the 100-day review a simpler and clearer framework for Games delivery is needed.”

The Courier-Mail has been told all existing 24 board members have been advised of the proposed changes, which would go through a process before final positions are confirmed.

It comes as the government confirmed it would give the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority the ability to override existing legal protections - including heritage listings - to deliver key venues like the proposed Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park.

Businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle

The changes, set to be introduced to parliament on Thursday, will tear through legislation including the Queensland Heritage Act, the Environmental Protection Act, and the Planning Act — effectively sidelining normal assessment and approval processes.

It would mean sites with recognised cultural, environmental or historical value could be cleared if deemed necessary for Olympic infrastructure.

The government claims the powers are essential to deliver the Games “on time and on budget”.

Infrastructure Minister Mr Bleijie said appropriate checks and balances would be in place to monitor the authority’s powers.

“With the largest infrastructure investment in Queensland’s history, it’s important there are clear pathways to delivery, with the appropriate oversight of Government in the right places,” Mr Bleijie said.

At the heart of the 2032 delivery plan is the Victoria Park Stadium, which would now be exempt from laws that typically protect its green space and heritage status.

Prior to the unveiling of the Olympic venues, the Save Victoria Park advocacy group threatened legal action if the government planned to build a stadium on the heritage-listed park.

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Big names facing axe from Games board