Queensland election 2024: David Crisafulli says no new Olympics stadium, rules out QSAC

Steven Miles has called on David Crisafulli to be honest about his plans for the 2032 Games as the Opposition leader once again rejects QSAC and dismisses the need for a new stadium.

David Crisafulli has declared the 2032 Olympic stadium won’t be QSAC. Picture: Liam Kidston.

• Stadium saga: Breakdown of the key options

Premier Steven Miles has demanded David Crisafulli reveal his plans for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games after the Opposition leader again ruled out QSAC and building a new main stadium.

Mr Crisafulli has criticised Labor’s plan to have the athletics at QSAC and pledged not to build a new stadium – with the Gabba thought to be firmly in the mix.

The LNP leader has avoided commenting on plans and stood behind a 100-day infrastructure review to determine Games venues.

Premier Steven Miles at Sandstone Point today. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Asked repeatedly on Sunday whether he would be open to accepting private investment to build a new stadium, Mr Crisafulli insisted a new stadium was not on the cards.

“Our focus is on generational infrastructure,” he said.

“Now, we are going to give people world class venues.

“It won’t be QSAC, but we’ve spoken about no new stadiums.”

Mr Miles called on his rival to “be honest” about his plans for the Games.

“He’s not telling Queenslanders he will build the Gabba and I’m sure that once he does, all of that feedback that we received when that was core to our plan will come forward,” he said.

“The East Brisbane state school will come forward.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli at Pine Rivers Football Club on Sunday. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“The campaign about the warm-up track and the impact on green space, the implications of his decision to build the Gabba, he needs to answer for those instead of just obfuscating and saying well, I won’t do QSAC, I might do the Gabba, I won’t do Victoria Park.

“He doesn’t want to be held to account for that come October 26.”

Mr Miles for more than one year promoted Annastacia Palaszczuk’s plan to rebuild the Gabba but axed the development when he became premier.

It comes after the LNP announced a $250m Olympic infrastructure fund dedicated to grassroots sport club upgrades across the state.

The $250m fund would sit outside the existing $7.1bn bucket, and would be tagged onto the LNP’s first budget next June.

Mr Crisafulli said the additional money was designed to make regional Queensland feel included in 2032 legacy.

“(It;) about making sure that every single part of the state benefits,” he said.

“We also want to make sure that then every region is able to bid for projects across all 12 regions.”

A total $11.1m of the $250 has so far been awarded to four sports clubs, including the Pine Rivers Football club which received a $3.8m kick-in on Sunday.

Mr Crisafulli confirmed that projects announced during the election campaign would be “first cab off the rank,” with remaining funds to be divided through a grant application process.

Local councils would also be asked to chip in, with Moreton Bay propping up a seven-figure contribution to the football club upgrades.

An Olympic co-ordinated delivery authority would be created from scratch, with the board to include one regional Queensland member.

Opposition Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie said, if elected, the LNP would also appoint a full-time chief executive to replace Emma Thomas whose interim contract will expire in February.

“If they had to set the co-ordination authority up, none of this would have been an issue,” he said.

“He (Steven Miles) passed legislation to set it up, they never appointed a board.”

Despite slamming the government’s lack of action on the games delivery, the LNP refused to give insight as to where the main stadium would be held.

Originally published as Queensland election 2024: David Crisafulli says no new Olympics stadium, rules out QSAC