Crisafulli government to seek Olympic transport funding from feds

The Crisafulli government will seek half of Olympics transport infrastructure costs from the Albanese government on top of its $3.5bn already committed for Queensland Games venues.

An artist impression of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park for Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Source: Queensland government

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Queensland Premier David ­Crisafulli will approach the re-elected Albanese government for an Olympics funding boost to pay for up to half of the costs for necessary transport infrastructure needed to deliver the 2032 Games.

The call comes just two months after the Queensland Liberal National government unveiled its new Olympics vision for venues, when Mr Crisafulli broke his election promise by forging ahead with a new Brisbane stadium while reaffirming the new plan would not blow out above the agreed $7.1bn state-federal funding envelope.

On Sunday, Mr Crisafulli’s deputy, Jarrod Bleijie, said the bid for new money was separate to the funds already pledged to ­venues. He would not say how much transport associated to key venues, including around the $3.8bn Victoria Park stadium and the Sunshine Coast metro, would cost the taxpayer.

“Federal governments always invest in infrastructure, into ­future roads and rail,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We will work with our federal colleagues. We’d love to see them come to the party with 50-50 funding … as they have done with venues, with our master plans, with the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail stage one.

“I’m very confident the federal government want to see (the Games) as an absolute success for Queensland.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, speaks in the Queensland parliament. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Bleijie said he would seek meetings with the infrastructure and sports ministers after Anthony Albanese unveils his ­second-term cabinet this week.

He also hopes the federal government would look more favourably on the state after Labor picked up seven seats and a second Senate spot in Queensland.

“Maybe they’ll be a little more interested in a bit more spending in Queensland, which we, of course, on Team Queensland would want and support,” he said.

No formal request has been made to the federal government for additional funds.

The revelation comes ahead of the Crisafulli government’s first budget, which is under the stress of cost blowouts.

However, Mr Crisafulli and his deputy claimed on Sunday that the June 24 budget would feature a record spend on health, public transport and infrastructure.

The Australian revealed on Saturday that cabinet ministers and director-generals have been ordered to cap spending in order to cut debt and protect the state from its first credit rating downgrade in 15 years.

Premier of Queensland David Crisafulli on Sunday. Picture Lachie Millard

Mr Crisafulli denied suggestions that the government would deliver cuts to services or departmental budgets.

“In a state that’s got some massive challenges to overcome, health crisis, crime crisis, cost-of-living crisis and a housing crisis, we are going to have to invest more money, plain and simple,” the Premier said.

“The under-Treasurer, and indeed the Treasurer, are leading that, and they are making sure that every department knows every line and gives every single cent of taxpayer funding with the value and respect that it ­deserves.”

The state government is now looking for federal funds to help sure up its bottom line.

Former premier Steven Miles told The Australian in March that the Department of State Development had reviewed the cost of upgrades around Victoria Park and he was advised that works would require $1.6bn in funding.

Mr Bleijie labelled Mr Miles’s figure as “bogus” but did not offer an alternative costing.

“We’re working out the budget now for the transport, not only Victoria Park and the RNA and the Tennis Centre, the National Aquatic Centre, we’re talking about expanding the metro to places like Capalaba,” he said.

No details or costings were provided on necessary transport upgrades within the Crisafulli government’s 2032 Delivery Plan.