Brisbane 2032 Olympics: High-profile figures face board axing

High-profile sport and business identities are set to be sensationally axed from the powerful Brisbane 2032 board in bid to “enhance efficient and effective decision-making”.

Greg Norman is one of the high-profile board members at risk.

High-profile sport and business identities are set to be dramatically axed from the powerful Brisbane 2032 board due to concerns it is too large for efficient decision-making.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the government will act on a recommendation by the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority for the number of members on the 24-person Brisbane 2032 board to be significantly reduced.

Headed by Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris, the organising committee board’s 24 members include six politicians, sports personalities, Olympic decision-makers and business identities.

Its six vice-presidents are made up of three politicians, the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia presidents and Olympic powerbroker John Coates.

The 100-day review, authored by Stephen Conry, has recommended non-Olympic host contract membership of the Brisbane 2032 board be reduced to five members.

Some of sport’s biggest names including Greg Norman, Kurt Fearnley and Natalie Cook could be on the chopping block, along with Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott, former Chemist Warehouse managing director Brett Clark and Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle.

A government spokesman said it would enhance efficient and effective decision-making and oversight, but declined to provide details on the future board’s make-up.

Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander. Picture: John Gass

Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the government backed the findings of the Games Authority’s 100 day review to streamline the decision making process.

He said it was yet to be determined who would remain on the board and the numbers following a restructure, the process of which could take months.

Mr Mander said board members had been informed and that it would discuss the issue further in a meeting held on Friday, and that Mr Liveris was “very comfortable” with the process.

“I think the size that the board is at the moment was appropriate when it was first established,” Mr Mander said.

“But as we get closer to the games it’s important that we become more agile and more efficient with our decision making.

“The more people that’s on the board the more complicated it can be.

“So we accept that recommendation by the panel and now we’re just working through details of what that will look like.”

Last week Premier David Crisafulli revealed the government’s Olympic delivery strategy after considering the Games Authority’s review, which includes a new 63,000 stadium in Victoria Park.

Mr Mander conceded there were smaller facilities not included within the announcement yet to be determined, and he said he will meet with sporting bodies such as Gymnastics Queensland that were concerned with their ageing infrastructure.

“They are valid questions, and we’ll go through those discussions this week,” he said.

Natalie Cook

Kurt Fearnley

A smaller board would likely include one politician from the state and federal governments and Brisbane City Council alongside representatives from the Australian Olympic and Paralympic movements.

Mr Conry recommended a smaller board then also include an independent president nominated by the state government and one nominee from the federal government, a representative from the City of Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Council and Australian Olympic Committee honorary president Mr Coates.

The Queensland and Australian governments would also each name one additional independent director to achieve optimal board capability and diversity.

The structure of the new board is being worked through by the state government and 2032 organising committee.

Those in the firing line could be relegated to a new executive subcommittee of no more than seven members set up to delegate board matters and facilitate efficient decision-making.

A host city contract between Queensland and the International Olympic Committee also stipulates athletes have a representative on the organising committee board.

Paris canoe slalom gold medallist Jess Fox is expected to remain that representative.

The make-up of the board was determined by the Palaszczuk government in consultation with former prime minister Scott Morrison.

Gold Coast businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: High-profile figures face board axing