Annastacia Palaszczuk grilled over Gabba blowout and Wellcamp spend
Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the decision to build a new $2.7bn stadium during a cost-of-living and housing crisis, insisting the new Gabba would ‘benefit generations to come’.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the decision to build a $2.7bn stadium during a cost-of-living and housing crisis, insisting the new Gabba will “benefit generations to come”.
The Queensland Premier was quizzed over cost blowouts on major projects during the first day of budget estimates on Tuesday, including a $2.4bn increase on a train-building program and $1.7bn spike in costs to rebuild the Gabba stadium.
Redeveloping the Gabba, which will host athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2032 Olympic Games, was announced by Ms Palaszczuk in April 2021 with an estimated price of $1bn.
No detailed business case was done before the announcement, and costs to demolish and rebuild the stadium have since exploded by 170 per cent.
Under questioning from LNP leader David Crisafulli, Ms Palaszczuk said the increase was due to an unreleased “project validation report”, a global surge in construction costs and supply chain disruptions.
“The Gabba has essentially reached the end of its life,” she said. “This is going to be a lasting legacy for Queensland.
“We also had a look at the options and the best option for a sustainable stadium that Queenslanders can enjoy for the long term is a complete rebuild.”
She said the final projection validation report, which was due to be released mid-year, was “progressing and we will release results … in due course”.
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