‘Hideous waste of money’: Campbell Newman says Gabba should not be rebuilt
The $2.7bn rebuild of the Gabba is a ‘hideous waste of money’ during a cost-of-living crisis declared former Queensland premier and Brisbane lord mayor Campbell Newman.
The $2.7bn rebuild of the Gabba is a “hideous waste of money” during a cost-of-living crisis and the Queensland government should instead opt for a cheaper refurbishment, former Queensland premier and Brisbane lord mayor Campbell Newman declared.
Mr Newman, who was lord mayor from 2004 to 2011 before serving one term as premier, said the 2032 Brisbane Games had been sold to the public and the International Olympic Committee as a “no frills affair” that would lead to better public transport and investment attraction.
He said he believed the government had “absolutely lost its way” on planning, was spending more than the state could afford and was too focused on venues.
“I am really saddened that so many people are starting to turn off the Games and that is a real warning to all the politicians; that's why they need to be careful and frugal with the way taxpayer dollars are spent,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a magnificent event. It will showcase our city to the world in a way it’s never happened before, but it’s got to be done the right way, in the way that it was originally pitched to the community.
“The Gabba really should not be torn down; I don’t accept that it’s an end of life. I think that is a complete and utter furphy. I mean, they we’re still building the current version of the Gabba in the late ’90s.”
Premier Steven Miles ordered a 60-day review of Olympics infrastructure on Thursday amid growing community concern about cost blowouts on projects, particularly the Gabba, which has skyrocketed from initial estimate of $1bn to $2.7bn.
The review will be led by former Brisbane Liberal National Party lord mayor Graham Quirk, who was Mr Newman’s deputy at city hall, and assess whether planned venues present value for money for taxpayers.
Mr Newman said the government should have made the call to scrap the Gabba rebuild without an independent review, but Mr Miles’ decision was “politically astute”.
“It hurts me to say, but I think he’s doing pretty well, politically, at the moment,” he said.
“By doing what he’s doing, he’s effectively locking in the LNP to whatever outcome is recommended.”
A refurbished Gabba was proposed to be Brisbane’s main Olympic stadium in April 2021, without a detailed business case or community consultation.
Previously Brisbane hosts had planned to build a new 50,000-seat main stadium, but in a February 2021 feasibility assessment the IOC recommended Brisbane instead use the existing 40,000-seat Gabba for opening and closing ceremonies and the 40,000-seat Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast for athletics.
Mr Miles said he was not part of deliberations to propose the Gabba without a business case but he “certainly supported that plan at the time”.
“I haven’t shied away from my responsibility in that,” he said.
As the former Olympics infrastructure minister, Mr Miles led the defence of the redevelopment, arguing the stadium was nearing the end of its life, it lacked disability access and adequate women’s facilities, and was so outdated it would struggle to attract future sporting events and concerts.
On Friday he said he had done his best to explain why he believed a total rebuild was the best option but: “ultimately many Queenslanders have said to me that they’re not convinced, and I take that on board, I accept that”.
“I think there is scope for there to be continuing upgrades to all of the stadiums that we run. I’m certainly not ruling that out,” Mr Miles said.
“The question here really is about that complete demolition and rebuild and whether that’s the best value for money.”
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