Millions ‘down the drain’ in govt’s cancelled bid to relocate school for 2032 Brisbane Games

Taxpayers have forked out an eye-watering sum for the state government to prepare – then ditch – a proposal to controversially relocate a century-old primary school for the 2032 Games.

Taxpayers have forked out nearly $3 million for the state government to prepare – then ditch – a proposal to controversially relocate a Brisbane primary school for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Education Minister Di Farmer, in a question on notice, revealed the government had spent $2.77 million on the proposed relocation of East Brisbane State School.

Just $10,000 of that was not spent on contractors.

The other $2.76 million went towards consultants, town planning, property ­advisers and the development of a detailed business case among other reports — though the specific breakdown has not yet been provided by the government.

East Brisbane State School with the floodlights of the Gabba in the background. Picture David Clark

“The cost apportioned for the East Brisbane State School relocation project included work undertaken for options analysis, investigation and master planning, and consultation with the East Brisbane State School community,” a spokesman for Ms Farmer said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie accused the government of sending “another $3 million of taxpayers’ money down the drain” during a cost of living crisis.

“The stress and confusion the Palaszczuk-Miles government has caused staff, students and families at East Brisbane State School has been nothing short of cruel,” he said.

Queensland Education Minister Di Farmer has revealed the true cost of the cancelled relocation of East Brisbane State School. Picture: Dan Peled

The government’s decision to relocate the school to make way for the $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment caused the tight-knit community significant distress and anger, with students slated to move at the start of 2026.

But after months of campaigning the government ultimately ditched the plan and the Gabba redevelopment altogether after the 60-day independent review into Olympic and Paralympic Games venues.

The cost of the ditched relocation bid comes after it was revealed taxpayers had forked out nearly $4.5 million in the past three years for the government to outsource work on the Games.

East Brisbane State School would have had to make way for the rebuild of the Gabba for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games if it had gone ahead. Picture David Clark

And this does not include the full cost of the 60-day independent infrastructure review run by former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk — whose key recommendation to build a new stadium at Victoria Park was ultimately kiboshed by the state government’s shadow review.

State Development Minister Grace Grace, in a question on notice, revealed the state government had spent a total of $4.42m hiring external consultants, lawyers, auditors and advisers to work on the 2032 Games since mid-2021.

External consulting services and advice made up 70 per cent — or $3.1m — of spending to the end of February 2024.

It’s expected the sum will include the $717,000 the government spent contracting Deloitte’s to write a report used to justify scrapping an independent Olympic infrastructure body. The body has since been revived by Premier Steven Miles.

Queensland Auditor-General Brendan Worrall, in his latest report, labelled the value of the Deloitte’s contract “questionable”.

Originally published as Millions ‘down the drain’ in govt’s cancelled bid to relocate school for 2032 Brisbane Games