State-federal deal over Olympics … but not everyone is happy
Olympic deal breaker
Anthony Albanese has quietly signed up to David Crisafulli’s overhauled Olympic venue plans, but not everyone is happy.
The two governments are now nutting-out where to spend the $2.5bn in federal funds originally set aside by the former state Labor government to build Brisbane Arena, a proposed inner-city concert venue that would have hosted the swimming in 2032 with a drop-in pool.
Crisafulli dumped the arena, opting for Swimming Australia’s idea of a new aquatic centre – which, we hear, will cost at least twice the $630m construction estimate put up by the sport’s body.
In the background to all the fun, games and excitement of Crisafulli’s plan – fulsomely endorsed recently by visiting Olympics officials – is Brisbane businessman Harvey Lister, and the disqualification of the deal of his career just as he was in the home straight.
The events guru, who has long managed the state-owned Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Suncorp Stadium (most recently as a regional boss of ASM Global), is credited with the idea of the concert venue, first touted more than a decade ago as Brisbane Live.
Lister was once aptly described as a “human rolodex” of connections with politicians, business people and journalists, most of whom got freebie tickets to big events at Suncorp and Boondall.
But while Lister’s idea was good, although hardly groundbreaking – a 17,000-seat venue in the city rather than in the boondocks – it was the related secret deal he struck with the former Labor government that was gold medal worthy.
Under the “early operator engagement deed”, the Queensland government was contracted to invite a commercial offer from ASM Global to exclusively operate the venue.
The deal is also believed to have involved possibly millions of dollars in compensation if Lister missed out on managing the venue after it was built at taxpayer expense.
But things have changed dramatically since the deal was struck; the new government dumped it as an Olympics venue, they moved the proposed site from Roma Street to the Gabba and the project has now been opened to the market to bid, build and operate.
Chooks’ spies hear that Lister – who did not return our call – had a meeting in the past week or so and was given the bad news by deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie.
The deal was terminated: there is no hope of any exclusivity on the proposed venue and no payout.
Devil in the detail
And back to the main event, the Olympics rollout.
When Crisafulli announced his venue plans in March, which included breaking an election promise and committing to a brand-new taxpayer-funded $3.785bn, 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park, the feds wouldn’t sign up to backing it as the election loomed.
But Albanese is back in The Lodge, and Chooks hears that he met up with the Premier when he was in Brisbane for the first game of the State of Origin series.
Before the election, Albanese was still spruiking the Brisbane Arena to host the Olympic swimming and then becoming a concert venue, with the estimated $2.5bn construction cost paid for by the Commonwealth.
Our spies tell us that the PM has now been persuaded over to the state plan to dump the arena as an Olympic venue and to reallocate the $2.5bn to other projects for the Games.
But, both the state and federal governments have said no formal agreement has yet been reached on the funding deal, which is capped at $7.1bn.
Negotiations are currently under way, with the feds demanding more detail and airtight business cases on parts of the plan.
We now hear that is where the concern is mounting.
One spy tells us that those preparing the material could be likened to those competing in the 20km race walk and not the sprints.
Keith Pitt
You can take the altar boy out of Queensland, but Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, didn’t forget his roots when meeting Pope Leo XIV this week.
The former Nationals MP and cabinet minister, appointed to the diplomatic corp by Anthony Albanese, met the newly installed Pope to formally present his credentials.
And he took along a gift basket full of Australian goodies.
The event was aired on the Vatican News Instagram account.
Watching the vision, Chooks spotted a tin of Anzac biscuits, a pack of TimTams (which the Pope apparently enjoyed in previous visits to Australia), and a selection of macadamia nuts and Bundaberg rum and raisin chocolates.
Most importantly, Pitt included a bottle of Penfold’s Shiraz for the cold nights in Rome.
And if the Pope ever gets bored of the art adorning the walls and ceilings in the Vatican, he could spruce up the place with paintings done by the children from St Francis Catholic Primary School at Tannum Sands, near Gladstone, or an Aboriginal message stick from the Pilbara.
In return, Pitt was given a coffee-table book and a blessing.
MIA =Missing. In. Attendance
Youth Justice and Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber has been laying low from media appearances this week.
No wonder, with her portfolio facing questions after an inmate escaped from a far north Queensland prison on a red tractor and the mysterious watch-house death of a woman just days after allegedly killing her child.
It also seems an important meeting might be missing from her official diary.
The Expert Legal Panel informing the Crisafulli government’s youth crime crackdown has been a sore point for a few weeks now (let’s not forget that press conference a few weeks ago), and Gerber has finally shed some light on its inner workings.
In response to a question on notice, Gerber revealed the five-person panel, led by barrister April Freeman, held four formal meetings in February and March and that she dropped in on the February 24 gathering for a “brief period”.
But those perusing her ministerial diary (like Chooks) would be none the wiser. No mention of the drop-in. Maybe Gerber forgot to jot it down?
Style over substance
While there is no denying the Chooks enjoy a matte A4 government booklet with high policy ambition and lovely pictures, one thing we do love more is some numbers to go alongside them.
So, imagine our disappointment on Monday when, after watching the Premier walk into Suncorp Stadium and a sizzle reel promising “record tourism spend”, the Destination 2045 20-year tourism plan had a surprising lack of detail.
There was plenty of talk about new tourism ventures, boosted marketing and support for operators but no details on how much is going to be spent or where.
This isn’t the first time the government has revealed big plans without detail of funding in recent months.
The Hospital Rescue Plan is one that didn’t have any figures on how much it will cost to deliver.
With the budget on June 24, the government says the numbers will flow.
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G’day readers and welcome to this week’s edition of Feeding the Chooks, your regular insight into the weird, wild, and very occasionally wonderful world of Queensland politics.