Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Jarrod Bleijie asks major codes to chip in
The government is rattling the tin for sporting codes to contribute as much cash and content as possible for Queensland’s multibillion-dollar Olympic venues.
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The government is rattling the tin for sporting codes to contribute as much cash and content as possible for Queensland’s multibillion-dollar Olympic venues.
Talks are under way about how Cricket Australia, AFL and RNA Queensland could contribute to building or filling stadiums.
It is understood the state will seek direct financial contributions from sporting codes and the private sector for the $3.8bn Victoria Park Stadium.
Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the state would be seeking “as much as we can” for stadium construction.
“Our $7.1bn is locked in, it’s locked in with the federal government as well with their contribution,” he said.
“But we will look for opportunities for other groups, AFL, cricket, and the private sector I might add, to also invest in the greatest games.”
Premier David Crisafulli said while financial contributions were important, securing major matches and events was worth more.
“We’ve really dialled that up to make sure that, because of the investment, we can get the kind of content that a growing state deserves,” he said.
“We’ve already had our first win on that cricket Australia has confirmed that the first test of the summer will be returning to Queensland where it belongs.
“Equally, we’re in talks with AFL about some exciting opportunities for content there.
“I’ve had those personally with the AFL CEO.”
He said the government would do the same with swimming.
“The idea about financial contributions is something that we are pursuing but it’s in the content space where you can deliver the real economic opportunities,” he said.
Simon Crooks, revealed by The Courier-Mail on Wednesday as the CEO of the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority, said he was positive about the seven-year construction timeline despite recent problems with low productivity.
“My understanding is the existing productivity levels have been catered for,” he said.
“I actually think that pretty well everybody’s going to focus on increasing those and giving ourselves every chance to better those dates, so I’m not concerned about it.”
Mr Crooks, who as infrastructure boss at Queen’s Wharf faced delays at the hands of the CFMEU, declined to be drawn on the union’s previous claim the Olympics couldn’t be built without it.
“It’s not something I really want to talk about … frankly, industrial relations is part of the fabric of construction delivery,” he said.
“It’s been managed for years.
“That’s pretty well I’m going to talk about from that viewpoint – it could be dealt with.”
Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Jarrod Bleijie asks major codes to chip in
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