Queensland state election 2024: New Premier David Crisafulli reveals his Gold Coast vision and plans

New Premier David Crisafulli has revealed his plans to transform the Gold Coast plans, with “generational infrastructure” at the top of the wishlist. FIND OUT MORE

Supercharging tourism, building generational infrastructure and attracting major corporates to relocate headquarters are at the heart of new Premier David Crisafulli’s Gold Coast plans.

The Member for Broadwater was expecting to be sworn in as the state’s 41st leader on Sunday afternoon after Steven Miles handed in his resignation to Governor Dr Jeanette Young.

Mr Crisafulli, only the second Gold Coast MP to lead the state following Rob Borbidge in the late 1990s, said his party took a “comprehensive plan to Queenslanders – and we will get to work”.

Unveiling his Gold Coast vision for the state’s economic engine room and small business and visitor capital, Mr Crisafulli has vowed to put tourism front-and-centre, and invest in “generational infrastructure.

David Crisafulli and Jarrod Bleijie at Queensland Parliament on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

“There’s lots of challenges, but this is an important city to the state, it’s important to me and I want people on the Coast to know they’ll have a Premier and a Cabinet that understands the city and understands a growing city needs infrastructure ahead of crisis, not retrofitting,” he said.

“Further diversification of the economy through another string to the tourism boat, which I think is eco-tourism plus more business relocation and I want to see businesses that are looking to re-headquarter from interstate come here.

“We have an amazing point of difference because of our lifestyle where we can entice business to relocate here and their staff can have a much better quality life than the one they’re living, commuting to and from Sydney, commuting an hour.”

Key priorities to be roll out include a 100-day review of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its infrastructure, dramatic change to youth crime laws and reviewing light rail’s multi-billion dollar stage four extension to the border.

Mr Crisafulli spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday, vowing to work closely with the federal government to deliver the southeast Queensland Olympics and Paralympics.

He declared the outgoing government’s plan to hold the Games at QSAC was dead but ruled out a new stadium, meaning the Gabba will now likely be rebuilt.

Artist impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment

Beyond tourism and sports, Mr Crisafulli said it was critical for the Gold Coast’s now $45bn economy to see growth across a spectrum of key sectors.

“I want see our learning institutions like Griffith University be able to take the next step into medical research and the opportunities that come with that,” he said.

“I want to make sure the lifestyle of the people who are here isn’t compromised by growth – I want to see it enhanced, so we need to get a fair share of police, a fair share of doctor and nurses and hospital beds.

“We need to continue a roll out of schooling options, and enable kids to be able to learn properly and we have to make sure we have housing options. Housing options means infrastructure ahead of the game.”

It comes days after Mr Crisafulli, who jointly holds the tourism portfolio, named a cableway in the Gold Coast Hinterland as a critical new project to boosting visitation after the sector was devastated by Covid.

The controversial cableway, being initially led by the Gold Coast City Council, requires state support, plus First Nations people.

Mr Crisafulli backs building a cableway in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

“We have so much potential in the space and if we are objectively looking at tourism, we haven’t developed eco tourism for a generation in this state and I cannot think of a better place to do it than the Coast,” he said last week.

“I’m not talking about wanton destruction, I’m talking about environmentally sensitive developments where you create jobs for people, create a generation of people who are environmental defenders and put that money aback in the environment.

“If things stack up environmentally then we should dream big because eco-tourism is a sleeping giant for the Coast.”