Olympic inquiry to sit again, ahead of venue review release

A federal Senate inquiry into Brisbane 2032 has called another hearing for February, despite the Crisafulli government’s 100-day venue review not being due to release its findings until the following month.

The clock officially started ticking on the 100-day review on November 29, making the report due to be completed by March 9 next year – a Sunday.

But the inquiry, chaired by Queensland LNP Senator Matt Canavan, has scheduled a public hearing for February 7 in Canberra, more than a month before the review’s scheduled completion.

Archipelago’s Peter Edwards giving evidence in April, as senators Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan look on, at the inquiry’s most recent public hearing in Brisbane.Credit: Darren England/AAP

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority review, being headed by property industry executive Stephen Conry, has been given a broad remit to recommend a course of action to deliver competition and legacy venues, transport infrastructure and Games governance.

The timing of the committee’s February hearing – almost 10 months after its previous one in Brisbane – will mean the results of that review will be unknown when the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee meets in Canberra.

But Canavan said the Olympics were a chance to put Queensland on the world stage and the committee wanted to “make sure that we’re on track to do just that”.

“The committee thought it was worthwhile to hold another inquiry following the Queensland election to ensure that delivery was on track, and whether increased costs of building are going to impact the anticipated budget,” he said.

“And it’s worthwhile for the committee to be able to update the report to ensure that the preparations for the games are continuing on track to be ready by 2032, especially since there is federal expenditure tied to a number of venues.”

At the inquiry’s Brisbane hearing in April, Australian Olympic supremo John Coates was at pains to point out that any expenditure needed to be on infrastructure the region would have built regardless of the Games, thereby insulating the Olympic movement from any cost criticism.

Coates, whose involvement in the Miles government’s decision to make the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre Brisbane’s main Olympic stadium, had initially refused to appear at the inquiry before having a change of heart.

Local architect Pete Edwards, from Brisbane design firm Archipelago, talked up to the committee his “Brisbane Bold” vision for Victoria Park to include a 60,000-seat Olympic stadium, to host cricket and AFL post-Games, along with the proposed indoor arena and an aquatic centre.

There was community opposition to that proposal, including an unusual pairing of Campbell Newman and Jim Soorley – two former Brisbane lord mayors from opposite sides of the aisle – who argued against the Victoria Park option.

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