‘It has become divisive’: Back to the start for 2032 Olympics review

Premier Steven Miles has launched his promised 60-day review of the venues planned for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a pledge to “bring people together”.

Acknowledging concerns over the cost and scale of the plans, particularly the $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment, Miles has asked a review panel to make its recommendations in March – after the Brisbane City Council election but before 2024-25 budgets are finalised.

Premier Steven Miles has launched his promised review of venue planning for the Brisbane 2032 Games.Credit: Mark Ludlow

Former LNP lord mayor Graham Quirk will head the review, which has been tasked with assessing planned venues against key criteria, including value for money, deliverability, and community legacy.

Quirk was instrumental in kicking off Brisbane’s bid for the Games, and was initially drawn by the International Olympic Committee’s “New Norm” policy, which advocated the use of existing venues by host cities wherever possible.

The Palaszczuk government later opted for the Gabba being rebuilt as an Olympic stadium, along with a new Brisbane Arena to host the swimming.

The review’s terms of reference, released on Thursday, require its panel to reconsider the reports and studies underpinning the current infrastructure plan, the relevance of the “New Norm” policy, the work of an IOC group established to identify savings and efficiencies, and “the deliverability of projects in the current market and macroeconomic conditions”.

“The Games are a chance for us to unite, but it has become divisive,” Miles said.

“I’m determined to end the division and bring people together, which is why I’ve committed to this 60-day review and establishing a delivery authority.”

The Gabba rebuild is not the only project under a cloud. The risk of a cost blowout has also cast doubts over the Brisbane Arena, an indoor stadium and entertainment venue to be built at Roma Street, while a whitewater centre in Redlands has also been controversial.

Then-lord mayor Graham Quirk in 2016, when the plan to secure the Games was in its infancy.Credit: Glenn Hunt

The terms of reference note that any change of plans as a result of the review will require the approval of the federal government as a funding partner – it has committed up to $2.5 billion to the Brisbane Arena project – as well as the IOC and other sporting federations.

Quirk will be supported by former NSW bureaucrat Ken Kanofski – who has reviewed other infrastructure plans – and major events consultant Michelle Morris.

While the public will not be invited to have a say, Quirk said he looked forward to targeted consultation with stakeholders.

“This is important work for all Queenslanders, which I am pleased to be part of, having been involved from the inception of the idea of hosting the Games,” Quirk said in a statement from the government.

The review panel will have access to unreleased project validation reports and joint business cases for the proposed venues, but will not be tasked with reconsidering plans for the International Broadcasting Centre, the Media Press Centre, the athletes’ village at Hamilton Northshore, or any temporary venues.

The terms of reference exclude consideration of venues for any new sports that may be proposed for inclusion by the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee. Cricket will make a comeback at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 and is expected to be included in the 2032 program.

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said she expected the review to be “carried out without fear or favour”.

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