LNP rejects new stadium in election pitch for fresh Games plan review

Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has joined Premier Steven Miles in ruling out the new Victoria Park stadium recommended by a review of 2032 Games venue plans this week.

But Crisafulli has criticised Miles’ move to “seize control” of the decision-making and put forward an alternative athletics venue, talked down by the review, instead pledging a review of his own.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, LNP leader David Crisafulli said he was still “confident we have the time to get this right”.Credit: Matt Dennien

“There can’t be new stadiums, because that’s not what Queenslanders signed up to,” he told journalists. “For 1000 days, the Labor government has torched the Games. I’m asking Queenslanders for 100 days to fix this mess.”

Seeking to differentiate the LNP’s approach, Crisafulli said he would establish an independent infrastructure co-ordination authority if elected premier in October to reset debate – again.

The group would report back within 100 days with options for venue and transport infrastructure, with a focus on roads and rail, only using existing venues, staying within existing funding levels, and present legacy opportunities “for all of Queensland”.

Crisafulli said his proposed group would be named before the election, and would likely replace a similar Games infrastructure delivery body to be established by the government by midyear.

“I don’t have faith in the government’s process,” he said, also criticising Labor for denied reports ministers discussed cancelling the Games at their Monday meeting.

While Crisafulli reiterated the LNP does not support the $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild plans which sparked the recent review, he did not rule out accepting upgrades recommended by his proposed independent group.

The comments came during Crisafulli’s first media appearance since former LNP lord mayor Graham Quirk’s 60-day review of Games venues, commissioned by Miles, was released on Monday.

But instead of building the suggested $3.4 billion, 55,000-seat Olympic stadium at Victoria Park in Brisbane’s inner-north, Miles has chosen to spend $1.6 billion dusting off the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan in the city’s south.

Labor MPs including Miles had for days used the developments to label Crisafulli as “weak” for refusing to reveal a position on Quirk’s key call.

The QSAC option would include refurbishing Suncorp Stadium to host the opening and closing ceremonies, and upgrading the Gabba – which the Quirk review found would reach the end of its life by 2030 and need $1 billion to bring it up to code beyond that.

With limited existing transport options to QSAC, formerly known as QEII and ANZ Stadium, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner suggested it could also cost at least an extra $400 million to get this to a standard needed for the Games.

Meanwhile, John Coates, on whose proposal Miles based the QSAC decision, and Quirk have been asked to appear before a Senate inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host the event on April 17.

Asked whether he would accept that invitation, Quirk told Brisbane Times: “I don’t know that when you get an invite to a Senate inquiry, that you have a real lot of choice.”

“I’m happy to co-operate with any inquiry that the Senate might be having and so, yes, I’ll certainly be appearing,” he said.

Comment has been sought from Coates, via the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.

Late last year, the inquiry’s interim report recommended halting Gabba rebuild plans, demanding a business case for the controversial proposal which state crossbench MPs had also called to be scrapped.

Federal opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Senator Bridget McKenzie said the venues and infrastructure should have been finalised before the Queensland and Commonwealth governments entered into their $7 billion joint-funding agreement last year.