Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refuses to play along in Commonwealth Games grab
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of blocking a Gold Coast bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite the business case calling for no direct state funding.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of blocking a Gold Coast bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite the business case calling for no direct funding from the state.
An independent report commissioned by the Gold Coast Council suggests a “scaled-down” event could be delivered for about $700m, with only “in-kind” support from the state government to fund policing and transport resources by using the infrastructure built when the region hosted the 2018 event.
Ms Palaszczuk has refused to meet mayor Tom Tate to discuss details of the proposal as the state also prepares to deliver the 2032 Olympic Games.
“I have said all along, just let the Gold Coast present its business case, and if the answer is no after that – I’ll accept the umpire’s decision,” Mr Tate said.
“Ironically, we are not even asking the state government for money, only in-kind support at the time through policing and other state agencies, as well as any legislative changes needed to various state laws to make it happen. That’s it.
“In every sense, this is a $2bn-plus gift to the South East Queensland economy at no monetary cost to Queensland, apart from in-kind support at the time.’’
The 2026 Commonwealth Games is in limbo after the Victorian government pulled out of hosting the event after the budget more than doubled to $7bn. State premiers across Australia, including Ms Palaszczuk, quickly rejected the idea of taking over.
An independent report by the chief executive of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Mark Peters, found the event could be delivered within an operational budget of $730m to $765m but noted state and federal support was “essential”.
The estimates rely on assumed funding commitments from the Commonwealth Games Federation of about $350m and around $200m from the federal government, higher than the $156m spent on the 2018 tournament.
When asked whether she would listen to Mr Tate’s business case, Ms Palaszczuk said the government’s priority remained 2032. “I have personally sat down with him and told him we do not have the time to do all the security arrangements that would be needed for his bid,” she said.
“Our priority, and we’ve got a long lead time, is in relation to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I have told Tom this.
“It takes years, it doesn’t just happen overnight. It is not just about the infrastructure.”
Federal Sports Minister Annika Wells wrote to Mr Tate, saying the federal government would consider the bid only with the support of Ms Palaszczuk.
Mr Tate met Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips and Commonwealth Games Federation Partners director Michael Bushell on the Gold Coast last week ahead of the general assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation meeting in Singapore in November, where key decisions around the future of the 2026 event will be made, including potential future host cities.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games could go ahead on a smaller scale at Gold Coast facilities built for the 2018 event.
While athletics, swimming and women’s cricket are a must, some sports would be cut for logistics or cost reasons, including the marathon, basketball, shooting and wrestling.
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