Brisbane 2032 Olympics: David Crisafulli hints LNP will ditch QSAC, embrace Gabba
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has given his strongest signal Labor’s plan for QSAC to be the centrepiece of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics will be dead if the LNP wins government.
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Only Premier Steven Miles thinks building a multimillion-dollar temporary Olympic stadium “in the middle of the scrub” at QSAC is a good idea, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has declared.
It is the strongest sign Mr Miles’s plan to use the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre for athletics at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics would be on the chopping block if the LNP won the October state election as expected.
Mr Crisafulli also shut down any chance of a new stadium, insisting the terms of reference for the Olympics review had been set in stone.
His comments could indicate a proposal to rebuild the Gabba, which for two years was the state government’s preferred option, might be reconsidered.
Mr Crisafulli pledged to give independent infrastructure reviewers 100 days to determine whether QSAC – which would be reduced from 40,000 seats during the Games to 14,000 seats after – was the best for Brisbane.
“I would be very surprised if an independent body, that wasn’t acting on a kneejerk political decision because of pressure on upgrading the Gabba, would say that to go and dump over $1.5bn temporary stand in the middle of the scrub is a good option,” he said.
“That was not a decision taken by a committee, it was a decision taken by a gentleman who doesn’t often display good judgment.
“That’s what happens when the government makes promises and just tries to cling to things as a political relief rather than doing business the right way.
“I’m still looking for a Queenslander whose first name isn’t Steven who reckons QSAC is a good option… I don’t share that view.”
Mr Crisafulli said there was still time to create a world-class Games, prompting Mr Miles to call on his likely successor to detail the LNP’s plan.
“If he doesn’t support that option then he must support the $3.5bn Victoria Park option, and nobody I talk to out in the suburbs of Brisbane or indeed regional Queensland thinks that’s a good use of money,” he said.
Mr Miles stands by QSAC while a project validation report is undertaken to determine the feasibility of the venue and transport solutions.
It is due to be finalised in the first half of 2025.
“We want to do it right and doing it right takes time,” he said.
“These are assets that we want to deliver for our city for decades and decades to come.”
Mr Miles indicated, however, the report would not advocate for or against the venue, but suggested how the state government could make it work.
“The critical component is the transport infrastructure,” he said.
“A final investment decision will be made once we do that.”
The premier noted the state and federal governments wanted to deliver the Olympic Games within the existing $7.1bn infrastructure funding envelope.
Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: David Crisafulli hints LNP will ditch QSAC, embrace Gabba
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