Brisbane 2032 CEO rebuked over call for people to ‘speak up’ for new stadium

The CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Games organising committee has earned a gentle rebuke from her chairman, after she urged people who wanted a new stadium to speak up.

Cindy Hook used a Queensland University of Technology business forum on Wednesday to urge people to push the state government for a new stadium, if that was indeed what they wanted.

Cindy Hook and Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris.Credit: Peter Wallis

“If you think Brisbane is a growing city that needs a new stadium, I heard you might want to speak up on that,” she said.

Inspecting the Chandler Sports Precinct on Thursday morning, Brisbane 2032 chairman Andrew Liveris said it was not up to the organising committee to agitate one way or the other.

“I hope we can hone in on the things that [Hook] did say that absolutely, totally, 100 per cent aligned with the priorities the OCOG [Organising Committee for the Olympic Games],” he said.

And among platitudes for Hook – “I love her, she’s an amazing leader,” he said – Liveris delivered a veiled reprimand of her comments.

“It is not our job to opine on this or that,” he said.

“The state and the city councils and the federal government – it’s their job and we will receive it in full partnership mode.”

Earlier this year, Premier Steven Miles rejected the findings of the venues review he commissioned, led by former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk, which recommended a new Olympic stadium be built at Victoria Park as a long-term replacement for the Gabba.

Instead, Miles chose a $1.6 billion option to build a temporary stadium at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, which has been roundly criticised for its lack of legacy.

Miles was firm in that decision on Thursday morning while speaking to reporters at a Bulimba school.

“Cindy might hold a view, but I know what Queenslanders think,” he said.

“They have consistently told me that they do not want a new $3.5-plus billion stadium.”

When asked what message she had for people who wanted a new stadium, Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said: “There are plenty of people who don’t want a stadium to be built.

“The government – let me be very clear – has made its position.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who has supported the Victoria Park option, said it remained a matter for the state government.

“When [Grace] tells you that she doesn’t support a stadium at Victoria Park, believe her, she means it, and the government ultimately makes that decision,” he said.

But with the October election fast approaching, that government could well be controlled by Schrinner’s LNP colleagues.

“Whatever the state government’s decision is, we will work with it and we’ll make sure that there’s a great outcome for the community,” Schrinner said.

Miles suggested on Thursday the LNP had been “running around town behind closed doors” saying they would build the stadium if elected in November.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the latest stadium discourse was a case of “more uncertainty, more division”.

“I’m asking Queenslanders for 100 days to sort out the mess and create an event that Queenslanders can be proud of,” he said.

The LNP has committed to holding a 100-day review into Olympic venues, but Crisafulli has so far insisted it will not consider a new stadium at Victoria Park.