Queensland Premier David Crisafulli vows ‘not one extra cent’ to be asked from Commonwealth as venues for Brisbane Olympics 2032 revealed

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has vowed not “one extra cent” will be borrowed to fund the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, as the controversial venues for the Games are revealed.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has vowed “not one extra cent” will be borrowed from the Commonwealth to fund the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, as officials reveal the venues for the Games and the controversial plans of how they will take shape.

Mr Crisafulli on Tuesday outlined which cities will host what events up and down the Sunshine State – before answering pointed questions about the Games’ funding at a panel with elite athletes and Olympic committee officials.

Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli The Queensland Government at an official media event and media conference following the release of the 2032 Olympic Plan for Queensland. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Most contentiously, sports fans also learnt which stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics.

A new Olympic stadium will be built at Victoria Park, as will a 25,000-seat National Aquatic Centre, which will become the home of Australian water sports.

The RNA Showgrounds will become a 20,000-seat boutique stadium, next to a relocated Brisbane athletes’ village.

On the campaign trail, then-opposition leader Mr Crisafulli promised no new stadiums would be built.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has apologised for going back on his election promise that no new stadiums would be built. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

But a new 60,000 seat stadium at the sprawling inner-city Victoria park has been confirmed as the centrepiece stadium of the Games – which will become the new home for the Brisbane Lions and Cricket Australia matches after the Games have concluded.

Protesters against the new stadium gathered outside the announcement event on Tuesday.

At the panel, Mr Crisafulli asserted the 2032 event had been fully budgeted to the tune of $7.1 billion in capital works.

“I spoke with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader yesterday – just to be clear, the Games are fully funded,” he said.

“We are not asking for not one extra cent from the Commonwealth. Not one extra cent.”

The proposed stadium at Victoria Park in Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

The proposed Queensland Tennis Centre. Picture: Supplied

Mr Crisafulli said he had asked the government to “see the merit” in works being done by the private sector on a “world-class arena that taxpayers don’t have to pay (for).”

“On the basis of that we can stay in the $7.1 billion,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli still admitted his broken “no new stadium” promise, saying he would take responsibility.

“By being honest and copping that on the chin. I have to own that, and I will, and I am sorry, and it’s my decision, and I accept that decision,” he said.

Upgrading the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre was “politically easier” than building a stadium at Victoria Park, Mr Crisafulli said.

Mr Crisafulli said he had to “own” his decision to break the “no new stadium” promise. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

“I wasn’t prepared to take the politically easy option when the truth is that wouldn’t be for the benefit of the state. And so, yeah, I accept it absolutely, but it’s the right call,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli said a slew of major stadium, arena and infrastructure developments were “fully funded”.

One project involves connecting the Sunshine Coast with a major rail and metro connection called The Wave.

The heavy passenger rail will be rolled out from Beerwah to Birtinya, then metro to the Sunshine Coast Airport with additional stations at Mountain Creek and Maroochydore.

“Passengers will be able to ride The Wave, with seamless transitions between stations,” the government said in a statement.

“Metro infrastructure will be constructed from the Birtinya station to Maroochydore station, delivering the long-awaited Mooloolah River Interchange.”

Multiple Olympic and Paralympic sports organisations will move their headquarters to the National Aquatics Centre.

Mr Crisafulli fantasised about the ageing Gabba hosting a “swan song” of Australian cricket gold medals at the Games.

The Gabba will not be redeveloped, and AFL matches will move to the new stadium after the Olympics. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Upgrading the Gabba was untenable, he said, meaning Victoria Park was required.

“It became a choice between spending billions on temporary facilities and temporary stands that delivered no legacy, or securing the future of AFL in cricket at a new home,” he said.

“The time has come to just get on with it.”

Brisbane Tennis Centre will be upgraded with a new 3000-seat court next to Pat Rafter Arena and 12 additional new courts.

Soccer will be hosted in Cairns and Townsville. Sailing will also be “co-hosted” in Townsville.

Steven Miles Leader of the Opposition of Queensland The Queensland Government at the official media event and media conference following the release of the 2032 Olympic Plan for Queensland. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The hockey will be played at an upgraded centre on the Gold Coast, not at the Brisbane headquarters of Queensland Rugby Union as had been floated.

But the major decision for the state government has been which of four stadiums would host the track and field and the opening and closing ceremonies. The ousted Labor premier, Steven Miles, was a fan of having the athletics and the ceremonies in different stadiums.

Options on the table included a new 70,000 seat, $3.4bn stadium at Victoria Park. This would sit atop the Inner City Bypass road, within walking distance of three train stations, but during his election campaign, Mr Crisafulli promised no new stadiums would be built.

Since former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk claimed Olympic hosting honours, the debate and planning around venues had been a rigmarole. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

A $2.7bn rebuild of the Gabba had been floated; this would have forced the closure of a school, had residents up in arms and would have left major professional sporting teams without a home ground.

A third option was $1.6bn temporary upgrades to the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. This plan would only accommodate 40,000 seats, shutting out thousands of people from attending the major events of the Games and likely pricing out locals.

The most expensive option for the main stadium was a new $6bn, 60,000-seat stadium at Brisbane’s Northshore, with a hotel and 2500-apartment athlete’s village. With accompanying retail and restaurants, this would have attracted considerable private investment.

Originally published as Queensland Premier David Crisafulli vows ‘not one extra cent’ to be asked from Commonwealth as venues for Brisbane Olympics 2032 revealed