Palaszczuk says Gabba ‘makes perfect sense’ for 2032 Olympics

Annastacia Palaszczuk has slammed plans to host the 2032 Olympics at QSAC, insisting the Gabba is the only option for the international event.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Gabba is the only option

Annastacia Palaszczuk says hosting the 2032 Olympics at QSAC would be a step backwards and that both parties seemed to be parking their plans until after the election results.

Speaking on a Sky News election panel, the former Premier said both leaders regardless of the result needed a plan, that “Queenslanders respect you when you have a plan”.

“I had a plan, I still believe in that plan what a lot of people don’t realise is that the Cross River Rail that’s being built is directly under the Gabba, the metro comes into the Gabba, it is your public transport solution at the Gabba and that Gabba needs a rebuild,” Ms Palaszczuk.

“We can’t go backwards, QSAC is going backwards, this needs to be visionary, it needs to be bold, but it’s under the new norm.

Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: David Clark

“And the new norm means that … the Olympic Committee does not want the host city to be spending billions and billions of dollars on large stadiums, and we know that cost-of-living is a big issue but the infrastructure of these venues is a very small part and it is a

legacy for the city,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Gabba made “perfect sense” but had been lost in the conversation and whoever came into power needed to “lock that in” in order to “not be a laughing stock”.

Ms Palaszczuk said the vision for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games needed to be sorted out.

“And can I say to your regional viewers as well, there is upgrades and stadiums in Cairns in Toowoomba, right up and down the coast, to make sure that the young people are participating in sports. And one of the legacies can be a more active Queensland, and that’s a good thing.”

Ms Palaszczuk said both Mr Miles and Mr Crisafulli should “agree on something together”.

“ … because it’s in the best interest of the state. That’s what I like to see, that there’s an agreement on a proposal that we stick to, and that’s the plan.”

Campbell Newman said he “took issue” with what former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said about the 2032 Olympic Games being “all planned”.

“Stephen Miles was there and then sought to unravel everything,” he said.

“I agree with Anastasia that the Gabba would have been a great stadium, but it was going to have to necessitate a lot of money to rebuild, a lot of disruption. She’s right, because that’s where the public transport is.”

Mr Newman said QSAC was “implausible” and that he was against Victoria Park.

“It’s a fantastic location, and it’s got the great ability to have great public transport going into it, ferries, trains, buses, access to the Gateway arterial,” he said.

“I totally support Graham Quirk and Anastasia Palaszczuk going out and getting the Olympics. And I think it’s going to be fantastic for Queensland, fantastic for Brisbane,” he said.

Mr Newman said he would have loved both Steven Miles and David Crisafulli to be enthusiastic advocates for the games.

Originally published as Palaszczuk says Gabba ‘makes perfect sense’ for 2032 Olympics