Analysis: Treasurer’s focus should be on 2032, not October 26

The Labor government’s priorities are on winning the state election in weeks, instead of that major event eight years away, writes state political editor Hayden Johnson.

Treasurer Cameron Dick this week. Picture: Lachie Millard

This $9bn budget overspend exposes the two tales told by the Queensland government about how it manages your money.

When it comes to spending $3.6bn on a new world-class round stadium at Victoria Park, Queenslanders apparently tell Premier Steven Miles they don’t want it.

But the highest budget blowout in 14 years to fund department overruns, vote-buying electricity rebates and wage increases?

That’s just a normal part of the process, Treasurer Cameron Dick says.

It’s something the government had to do to help Queenslanders with cost of living and inflation, he argues.

Herein lies the problem with the state government’s rejection of anything that might make Brisbane shine in 2032.

Its priorities are on winning the state election in weeks, instead of that major event eight years away.

Mr Miles has repeatedly said Queenslanders have told him they don’t want a new stadium at Victoria Park, without revealing who these fist-shaking residents are.

Did the premier axe the proposal after being stopped by a couple and their cavoodle on the Hervey Bay Esplanade?

Or is he relying on the Palaszczuk-commissioned, taxpayer-funded polling that showed broad support for the Olympics tanking?

As Mr Dick rightly articulated last week, however, at least the government has a plan.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli can’t say what the stadium should feature, let alone where it should be located.

Does he believe it should be round?

Standing behind a 100-day review is a poor approach from the politician who is very likely to be premier in 31 days.

Originally published as Analysis: Treasurer’s focus should be on 2032, not October 26