Premier was adamant a year ago: ‘There can’t be new stadiums’

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli’s predecessor has demanded he live up to his pre-election promise of no new stadium to be built for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, after he distanced himself from his pledge over the weekend.

Former premier Steven Miles, now the Labor opposition leader, said Crisafulli gave Queenslanders his word and he expected him to “stick to it”.

“This was a very clear promise David Crisafulli made to the Queensland people,” Miles told journalists on Monday afternoon.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli: “My focus is not on new stadiums.”Credit: Joe Ruckli

“It was a core promise that he took to the election and I would find it incredibly extraordinary if, so quickly in, he’s planning to break one of his core promises.”

Last March, the then-opposition leader was emphatic: “There can’t be new stadiums because that’s not what Queenslanders signed up to,” he said.

He went on to say: “If you’re asking me whether or not I support a new stadium, the answer is ‘no’.”

He tempered his position after he was elected premier and his new LNP government set the terms of reference for a 100-day review of Olympic infrastructure in November. The scope of the review included “new, upgraded and temporary venues”.

Asked to explain why the word “new” was included in the terms of reference, Crisafulli said: “It needs to be about generational infrastructure, it’s not about new stadiums.”

The seven-member review committee, headed by property industry executive Stephen Conry, is due to deliver its recommendations in a matter of weeks, on March 8.

But in an interview with the ABC at the weekend, Crisafulli would not guarantee that no new stadium would be built.

Archipelago’s Brisbane Bold proposal for a stadium precinct at Victoria Park.Credit: Archipelago

“The review needs to be done free from political interference. They should have the right to be able to do that. They know my view and what I’ve said – I don’t think money should be spent on new stadiums,” he said.

On Monday morning, he denied he had walked away from his original pledge.

“My position is exactly the same as it was before,” he replied.

“My focus is not on new stadiums. I want to see a generational plan for this state.”

Brisbane 2032’s 11-year head start has whittled down to seven, and it is not yet known where the city’s main Olympic stadium will be, with the rebuilding of the Gabba or a new stadium at Victoria Park on the table, among other venue proposals.

“There is a quantum of money that has been allocated, and I think it’s important that we respect taxpayers’ money and it’s important that we make it about generational infrastructure,” Crisafulli said.

“I don’t want the focus to be on new stadiums.”

Asked whether Crisafulli would be bound to honour, or a least consider, the review’s recommendations, Miles said: “Nobody made David Crisafulli say the things he said.”

“Nobody forced him to make these promises to Queenslanders,” he said.

“He decided to make these promises. He said that his word would mean something and what we’re quickly discovering is that his word does not mean very much.”

Last month, former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Olympic review committee had “already decided” to build a new stadium at Victoria Park.

Palaszczuk said she was shocked, annoyed and “quite sad” that the Games preparations had become a “huge fight over stadiums” and a “political football”.

Miles faced heavy criticism for his decision to refurbish the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Nathan after rejecting the pitch for a new $3.4 billion Olympic stadium at Victoria Park.

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