LNP’s funding plan for new Brisbane Arena
The state government wants the private sector to build a flagship indoor Brisbane Arena to save taxpayers dollars, but the federal government’s $2.5b commitment to the arena is now up in the air.
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The state government wants the private sector to build a flagship indoor Brisbane Arena at Woolloongabba to save taxpayers dollars.
But the federal government wants further information on the new 2032 venue changes before it signs off a new deal to repurpose the $2.5b it had committed to the arena.
Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said renegotiating the $7.1b intergovernmental agreement with the federal government was ongoing after the state’s 2032 Delivery Plan on Tuesday did not include the arena.
“I think Queenslanders have seen our ability to negotiate well with the federal government,” he said.
“In the event government changes at the next federal election, I’m pretty confident a Queenslander like Peter Dutton will also work with us to deliver the plan in full.”
Mr Crisafulli declared the “world class” Brisbane Arena was needed but that it could instead be built privately for a “fraction of the cost to taxpayers”.
Mr Crisafulli said the arena’s omission from the final 2032 Delivery Plan was because it was not the job of the independent authority’s review to consider the merits of it being privately funded.
“The (state) government’s decision not to proceed with the arena as part of the Games Plan does not mean the death of a Brisbane Arena – far from it,” he said.
“What it does mean is an opportunity for the $2.5 billion the federal government has budgeted towards other infrastructure, including the Brisbane Stadium, the swimming, the tennis … and that’s just to name a few.”
The offers of a private Brisbane Arena build were revealed as the Premier also confirmed the proposed venue’s priority site would be moved from Roma Street to the vacant GoPrint site at Woolloongabba and will proceed with a market-led proposal.
Mr Bleijie told The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane event the Brisbane Arena could be achieved before 2032.
“We’ll start that process immediately,” he said.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane Arena not being in the 2032 Delivery Plan was not a “missed opportunity”.
“I think that’s an opportunity for taxpayers not to be hit with the bill and so … I’m really happy with that outcome,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the 100-Day review had been received and the state’s announcement of its “own plans” were heard on Tuesday.
The spokeswoman said the proposed venue changes and the impact on work already underway would need to be considered by the federal government.
She said there was confidence a new agreement on Games infrastructure “in the interests of Queenslanders and the Commonwealth” could be reached.
“We will be seeking further detailed information from the Queensland Government,” the spokeswoman said.
“We will need to see and assess the costings, proposed funding splits and any further alternatives.
“Our final decisions will be supported by due diligence on the venue sites and what is realistic within a now shortened time frame and the context of our funding commitment.”
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