Toowoomba Regional Council split over whether to discuss private Brisbane Olympic Games report in open forum

Councillors were split on whether to honour a State Government request that they discussed confidential documents relating to the potential 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games in an open forum. Here’s what you need to know.

TRC mayor Paul Antonio. Photo Bev Lacey

A confidential report laying out the Toowoomba Regional Council’s commitment to help host the potential 2032 Olympic Games has split the councillors, after a debate erupted over whether the documents should remain hidden from the public.

Councillors voted unanimously at a special meeting on Wednesday to provide certain services, venues and potentially financial contributions if southeast Queensland was selected for the Olympic Games.

The vote was based on delivery partner arrangement documents provided by the State Government, which had requested the report remain confidential.

However, most of the debate occurred before the documents were even discussed, with Cr Rebecca Vonhoff arguing it should be discussed in an open forum.

“We are being requested by the State Government that this be kept confidential, but our residents have every right to know about some of the financial decisions we will be making here,” she said.

However, Cr Kerry Shine believed the council should follow the request in a bid to stay in the State Government’s good favour.

“If we think it’s a good idea to tell the state that in Toowoomba we’re different from the rest of the state, and we think it’s a good precedence to set, then I think that’s wishful thinking,” he said.

“We should comply with the request of the state, and indicate we wish to be an enthusiastic participant in these games, rather than difficult right at the start.”

The vote to enter confidential discussions past narrowly by six votes to four.