‘Stop whinging’: Qld Premier defends $1.7bn Olympic Gabba blowout

The Queensland Premier has slapped down criticism of increased costs to replace the iconic stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Gabba was ’reaching its end of life anyway’. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Annastacia Palaszczuk has slapped down criticism of the $1.7bn blowout in replacing the Gabba stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, saying: “Stop the whinging.”

The Queensland Premier defended the initial price tag of $1bn that she nominated in 2021 and said the increase was due to “project validation” and a surge in costs driven by the Ukraine war.

“Can I just say this about the opposition too – stop your whinging. Stop your whinging,” she said today.

“This is going to be a fantastic Games, a fantastic legacy, and frankly we got the Games because all three levels of government have been committed to working towards these Games.”

An artist impression of the Gabba stadium. Artwork: Department of the Premier and Cabinet Brisbane Olympics 2032

The board of the organising committee, of which Ms Palaszczuk is a vice-president, has been meeting and touring venues on the Gold Coast ahead of an inspection next week by delegates of the International Olympic Committee.

Ms Palaszczuk said the iconic cricket and AFL stadium in central Brisbane was “reaching its end of life anyway” and would have been redeveloped regardless of the Games.

The Gabba would become the centrepiece of the 2032 Olympics, she said.