Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Federal backing for Arena

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has backed a Brisbane Arena in time for the 2032 Games, with a sobering warning on federal funding.

A concept for a Brisbane Arena at Roma Street Parkland

• Editor’s view: Don’t repeat mistake

Federal Treasurer and Logan-based MP Jim Chalmers has backed an inner-city entertainment arena for Brisbane in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

But he warned the federal government had no intention of forking out any more cash beyond the almost $3.5bn already promised for the arena and smaller venues.

That means any new costs or blowouts for Games venues would be have to borne by the state government or private backers.

Four days before the state government is set to receive the final Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure report, Mr Chalmers said the Albanese government remained committed to funding the $2.5bn for the Brisbane Arena to help make the 2032 Games “amazing”.

That money has been written into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Intergovernmental Agreement, along with a Commonwealth contribution up to $935m for a minor venues program.

“We’ve done that very enthusiastically, very proudly working with the former state government, the current state government, to make that funding available,” he said.

“We’re very enthusiastic and willing partners.”

Mr Chalmers said he was yet to see what was in the infrastructure report.

But he said it was not the Albanese government’s intention to give more federal money to larger venues if a new stadium was to cost more than the money already committed.

He said the state government had to “do their bit”.

“We’ve already found $2.5bn,” he said.

“That’s not a little amount of money. That should be enough.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has given federal backing for the venue.

“We’re looking forward to providing that funding.

“We haven’t been contemplating providing more than that.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, in Brisbane this week, would not say if a Coalition government would commit the $2.5bn required for the Brisbane Arena.

But he said he did want there to be great legacy assets out of 2032 for Queensland.

“I think the 2032 Games is going to be an amazing event for Brisbane, I think for our country,” he said.

“As we saw in Sydney in 2000, as we saw with the Commonwealth Games here on the Gold Coast, it’s a huge opportunity for there to be a legacy … so that’s part of the debate that’s under way at the moment.”

Mr Dutton confirmed he too had not yet been briefed on the report but expected he would at the appropriate time.

“We’ll wait to get that information and provide commentary after that,” he said.

“It means there will be investment in Queensland, jobs created, and that’s something that we all support.”

Mr Dutton also wouldn’t confirm if a Coalition government would commit more money to Brisbane 2032 if the infrastructure review deemed that was needed to pay for venues and legacy infrastructure.

“We’ll wait to see what the review says and I’ll have a discussion with the Premier (David Crisafulli) and we can make any announcements from there,” he said.

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Federal backing for Arena