Editorial: Pollies take us for mugs in stadium farce

The risk-averse state government is taking Queenslanders for mugs with its new excuses about why Brisbane can’t have a world-class round stadium, writes the editor.

This risk-averse state government is taking Queenslanders for mugs with its new excuses about why Brisbane can’t have a world-class round stadium.

The disingenuousness is actually breathtaking. Having shot down every proposal from industry leaders calling for a new stadium – and instead endorsing the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre idea that has little support – the government is now relying on dubious technicalities to stifle growing calls for a sporting legacy from 2032.

Minister Grace Grace, who is responsible for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said yesterday the lack of an athletic warm-up track in artists’ impressions of the Northshore and Victoria Park stadium proposals means they can’t work.

“A lot of these venues do not solve one key problem when it comes to athletics, and that’s the warm-up track,” she said.

“It is absolutely essential that whatever we do for athletics they must have, under the rules, a warm-up track within a very short distance of where they are to compete.”

That much is true. What is also true is that artists’ impressions of the Victoria Park Olympic precinct include a training track quite prominently on the massive greenfield site.

Perhaps the Hamilton proposal could also include a training facility in the immediate area. It would be a question one would think that the relevant minister might ask.

But instead of constructively considering the long-term benefits these projects could provide, Ms Grace is poo-pooing the chorus of voices from athletes and ordinary Queenslanders alike loudly calling for Brisbane to live up to the standards we all saw in Paris.

Minister Grace Grace with Premier Steven Miles

It should also be noted that Ms Grace sat at the cabinet table during Gabba planning that earmarked Raymond Park at Kangaroo Point as the training facility for the athletic stadium, with the 500m distance between the two facilities actually less than at the London Games in 2012.

This government has not genuinely considered Victoria Park as an alternative option to QSAC – which was only put on the agenda when International Olympic Committee powerbroker John Coates declared the Gabba had put the Games “on the nose in Brisbane”.

Ms Grace spoke at length on Sunday about the needs of the IOC, but was largely silent on the needs of a growing Brisbane.

Ministers often invoke the IOC’s “new norms” plan – where a host city doesn’t spend billions of dollars on new infrastructure – as a reason not to build a new stadium.

They know, however, this is not a blanket ban on new stadiums – especially if the host city is indeed crying out for a new oval venue.

As we have said many times in this column since the council of mayors proposed a bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this is not just about a month of elite sport in the future.

It is about ensuring a legacy for Brisbane and South East Queensland, culturally and in terms of transport and sporting infrastructure.

Somehow that has now been forgotten.

Under current plans, come 2033 Brisbane’s best oval stadium will be a repainted Gabba with just 38,000 seats, after QSAC removes its temporary Olympic stands.

Future generations would then be entirely justified to ask; however did we get it so wrong.

NDIS RORT MUST BE STOPPED

Reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme passed last week were well overdue, as the government attempts to rein in spending on a program that may shortly cost more than either Medicare or defence.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has insisted that the changes will allow more people on the program while stopping the rorts.

“This idea that everyone can head down to Bing Lee or Harvey Norman and get yourself a washing machine on the scheme, that’s not right and that’s never been OK,” Mr Shorten said yesterday.

However, today we also report on the case of 19-year-old Jack Bailey, whose last moments were spent worrying about his NDIS funding. Mr Bailey lived a full life despite being born with muscular dystrophy but relied on a team of dedicated carers.

One, occupational therapist Izzi Harman, told how Mr Bailey’s last text message – minutes before a fatal heart attack – concerned his NDIS funding, which had been slashed.

“Jack had a really beautiful full life before the NDIS let him down,” Ms Harman said.

The challenge for Mr Shorten is to eliminate the rorts from the NDIS while not forgetting people like Jack Bailey, the reason the scheme exists in the first place.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Pollies take us for mugs in stadium farce