Gabba’s $2.7bn rebuild ‘paused’ as new Queensland premier Steven Miles waits for independent scrutiny

Steven Miles says it is ‘reasonable’ to wait for the project to be reviewed by an independent agency.

Artist’s impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment.

Doubt has been cast over whether the controversial $2.7bn rebuild of the Gabba stadium will go ahead, with incoming Queensland premier Steven Miles pausing the redevelopment until it is examined by a new independent agency.

The multibillion-dollar infrastructure program for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will now be overseen by an independent ­co-ordinating body, after Mr Miles this week declared that he had been convinced it was the “right way to go”.

On Wednesday, Mr Miles said he had been advised the redevelopment was “absolutely necessary” to host the Brisbane 2032 Games, but he wanted to ensure taxpayers got the “best-value outcome”.

“I think it’s reasonable for us to be absolutely assured of that before we finalise those tenders,” he said.

Earlier, Treasurer and incoming deputy Cameron Dick confirmed the Gabba rebuild had been “paused” while the project was reviewed. “There are some moving parts there that we’re going to reflect on as a new government and I think colleagues need to have the opportunity to consider that,” he said.

Costs to demolish and rebuild the Gabba have already blown out by 170 per cent from initial estimates, skyrocketing from $1bn to an estimated $2.7bn.

Greens MP Amy MacMahon said the project should be scrapped entirely.

“The soon-to-be premier knows that he must stop this reckless rebuild or face electoral wipe-out next year, not just from the Greens in Brisbane but across this state, where people see a government more interested in a vanity project than their everyday needs,” she said. “Queenslanders don’t want billions of their taxpayer money wasted on the Gabba demolition while their schools fall apart, they can’t find an affordable place to live, and ambulances are ramping at their hospitals.”

Queensland Greens MP Amy MacMahon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tertius Pickard

Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said North Queenslanders had been neglected and would be “savage in their scrutiny” of the new premier.

“Cancelling the beleaguered 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games and redirecting the billions of taxpayer dollars committed to it to essential services must be the new Queensland premier’s main priority,” he said.

An independent oversight body was a key part of Brisbane’s pitch for the Games and it was promised the body would publish a report by mid-2022 with an “outline of monitoring methodology mapped to a detailed legacy delivery program and specific quantifiable targets alongside appropriate quality measures”.

In March, Mr Miles revealed the agency would instead be brought in-house, handing the state government total control over the rebuild. “I don’t think a new bureau­cracy that would just soak up resources is useful or necessary,” he said at the time.

In his first act as premier designate, Mr Miles distanced himself from his predecessor’s handling of Games planning by announcing he would reinstate an agency to independently deliver Games infrastructure.