Steven Miles’ office denies claims it considered cancelling Brisbane 2032 Games

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has dismissed reports his goverment explored cancelling the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

Premier Steven Miles says he will ignore the key finding in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games venues review.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles’ office has denied seeking advice about cancelling the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Media reports on Monday night claimed the state Labor government had investigated scrapping the Games amid growing community anger about cost blowouts on the planned stadium program.

Considering axing the event, the government sought advice about “potential cost and legal fallout” if it abandoned the Games, Nine News reported.

Mr Miles’ office emphatically rejected suggestion the state had considered walking away from the event.

“The government has never sought advice about cancelling the Games,” a government spokeswoman said. “We’ve ­always said Queensland would deliver a great Games.

“Not once did the government ever have the intention to cancel the Games.

“We have decided not to spend $3.4bn on a new stadium.”

Nine News reported the government was advised it would have to pay $500m in compensation and lose $3.5bn infrastructure funding committed by the federal government.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games because the event did not provide value for money.

Dual Olympian John Millman, who represented Australia in tennis at the Rio Games in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020, hit out at Mr Miles over the Premier’s claims on X that “Queenslanders have made it clear they do not want to spend billions on new stadiums” to justify abandoning plans to build a $3.4bn new Olympic stadium.

Millman questioned Mr Miles, saying: “But you’re planning on spending billions on old ones and some temporary seating?”

#BREAKING: The Government has investigated scrapping Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games. @TimArvier9#9Newspic.twitter.com/NdqlF75DDk

— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) March 19, 2024