Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Headhunting of venue review team revealed
Documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have revealed text messages and phone call logs as Jarrod Bleijie hand-picked his Games venue review team.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie “headhunted” his Olympic venues review team just 48 hours before the state government announced the powerbroker panel, new documents show.
The hand-picked Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority review panel, chaired by veteran property executive Stephen Conry, was announced on November 29 at the Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane event.
The Opposition was quick to criticise the state government over the secretive selection process, labelled as “soft corruption” by infrastructure spokesman Cameron Dick.
“Proper process has been abandoned,” he said.
New documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have revealed text messages and phone call logs between Mr Bleijie and Mr Conry dated just days before he was appointed to lead the 100-day Olympics review.
On November 21, one week before the official announcement, Mr Bleijie began texting Mr Conry the names and contact details of would be panellists.
Two days later, Mr Conry replied: “Spoke to Sue. She’s very keen.”
Mr Bleijie then shared David Hourigan’s details with Mr Conry on November 27 – he would be announced as the board’s interim chief executive two days later.
North Queensland powerbrokers Jamie Fitzpatrick and Laurence Lancini were contacted on November 26 while Mr Bleijie juggled his parliamentary swearing-in.
“Hi Jamie. Sorry just at parliament (s) wearing in. Will call this arvo,” he wrote to Mr Fitzpatrick.
Industry heavy-hitters Jill Davies, and Sue Johnson, were also contacted at various times on November 26.
Tony Cochrane was, according to the documents, contacted first on November 20, exchanging both calls and text messages with Mr Bleijie.
“Really appreciated our conversation Jarrod. We will make this a winner for the new government, as it should!” he said.
Labor has repeatedly questioned the review team’s independence, accusing the members of being aligned with the LNP and the government for hiring their “mates”.
Mr Bleijie at the time conceded he had researched and headhunted the group.
He said the RTI documents showed Labor’s attacks on the panellists were undignified and unnecessary.
“It is clear (Opposition Leader) Steven Miles and Labor are more focused on grubby personal attacks than fixing the Olympic-sized mess,” he said.
The panel was given 100 days to complete a review of infrastructure projects slated for the 2032 Games and is now tasked with overseeing the delivery of new and upgraded venues.
The state government will reveal that list of venues on Tuesday.
More Coverage
Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Headhunting of venue review team revealed
‘Build it, and the stars will come’: Albo’s Brisbane Arena vow
Anthony Albanese is holding firm on the federal government’s plan to build a new inner-city entertainment centre for Brisbane saying the city will not be overlooked by global megastars.
Watch: K’gari tracks smashed by Alfred, access ramp destroyed
Construction crews have been stunned by the level of damage to K’gari by Tropical Cyclone Alfred with locals cut off from council and emergency services.