Brisbane Olympics cost blowouts to surpass $500m

Cost blowouts to deliver the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games could climb to $681m, with a major infrastructure project expected to run over budget by half a billion dollars.

Concept drawings for Brisbane Live at Roma Street, as part of the Cross River Rail project.

Cost blowouts to deliver the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games could climb to $681m, with a major infrastructure project expected to run over budget by half a billion dollars.

The revelation came as Premier David Crisafulli announced that promoted former senator Amanda Stoker to his “next-gen” assistant ministry alongside six other newly-elected MPs.

Necessary upgrades to provide linkages from Brisbane’s Roma St train station to the federal government’s $2.5bn Brisbane Live arena project are expected to run over by up to $500m.

Deputy Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

Deputy Premier and State Development and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie labelled the blowout as “extraordinary” and said the department had been advised that the cost-analysis of Brisbane Live shows likely blowouts in the federal government’s outlay.

“This is an extraordinary amount of blowouts that the Labor Party have hid from the people of Queensland,” Mr Bleijie said.

“(Opposition leader) Steven Miles needs to apologise for hiding these cost blowouts … no one knew about it, the Labor Party knew about it, and they hid it from the people of Queensland.”

Last week, the new Liberal National government announced three minor venues for the games – Chandler Indoor Sports Centre, Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre and Sunshine Coast Stadium – had already blown out by $181m before a builder was appointed.

The LNP government has committed to a review of Olympic Games venues in its first 100 days, which Mr Crisafulli is was confident will deliver what Queenslander want.

“We’re going to make sure that the state has world-class Games, and that involves world-class venues,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“They’ll get that, and they will also get generational infrastructure.”

The premier also announced his assistant ministry on Sunday, but failed to deliver on his promise of having a dedicated local government minister or assistant minister.

Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker. Picture: Josh Woning

Long serving member for Condamine Pat Weir was nominated to become parliamentary speaker.

“The assistant ministry today we are announcing is young and hungry to serve,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I’ve seen the roles of assistant ministry cheapened in recent years and it is our intention that this assistant ministry will go to work. That means dealing with stakeholders, that means policy formulation, that means working hand in glove with the Ministry and the parliament to drive policy change.”

Ms Stoker, who was elected to the bayside seat of Oodgeroo, took on the assistant Finance, Trade, Employment and Training portfolio. She said she would work “bloody hard” for Queenslanders.

“I’m looking forward to drawing on my federal experience to help build a stronger economy, to make Queensland the best place to work,” she said.

“I’m absolutely determined to build the prosperity of Queenslanders and help them build their aspirations for their best possible lives.”

Redlands MP Rebecca Young will oversee the promised Better Regulation assistant portfolio alongside planning, housing and supporting Mr Bleijie. Former Gold Coast councillor and Burleigh MP Hermann Vorster has become the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction.

Pro-life MP Donna Kirkland, who endured a trainwreck press conference on abortion during the campaign, will be the assistant minister for Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Families and Seniors and Central Queensland.

The full Assistant Ministry includes:

• Dr Christian Rowan – Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens.
• Trevor Watts – Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South West Queensland.
• Amanda Stoker – Assistant Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training.
• Hermann Vorster – Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction.
• Rebecca Young – Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier and Assistant Minister for Planning, Housing and Better Regulation.
• Janelle Poole – Assistant Minister for Community Safety, Defence Industry, Veterans and North Queensland.
• Bryson Head – Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Resources and Critical Minerals.
• Bree James – Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland.
• Donna Kirkland – Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Families and Seniors and Central Queensland.
• Sean Dillon – Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland.