LNP wields Games blowouts against state and federal Labor as review looms

The news

Queensland’s new LNP government says it has found $181 million in cost overruns on three of the 10 minor 2032 Games venues alone, as it prepares to review plans and funding arrangements.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has used the details to sharpen the LNP’s accusations state Labor hid such costs from voters before the election – and claimed the federal government also knew.

Upgrades for the Sunshine Coast Stadium, and new indoor stadium for that region and the Chandler Sports Precinct, have seen estimated costs increase since May.

The estimated $500 million for new indoor sports centres in the Chandler Sports Precinct and adjacent to the Sunshine Coast Stadium, also being upgraded, are now tipped to cost $685 million.

“Queenslanders under [Labor’s] Stephen Miles and Cameron Dick were kept in the dark on these figures,” Bleijie said, also claiming federal Labor knew under the joint $7 billion infrastructure deal.

Why it matters

The projects in question were all subject to detailed reviews, known as project validation reports, with tender applications opened to the market earlier in the year.

For the outdoor stadium, however, this is said to have been delayed after then-minister Grace Grace was informally warned of a cost increase, which she asked her department to seek a better deal on.

It is not unusual for responses to tenders for such work to result in cost estimates from construction firms different to what was anticipated in planning – or for these to then change during work.

But the LNP campaigned on a promise to ensure such projects were done on time and on budget, and will now have to deal with any such changes in cost overruns itself as the government.

What they said

Speaking to journalists in Caloundra on Thursday, Bleijie said his government would outline any other expected cost overruns as they were discovered – with validation reports for some ongoing.

He said King “probably knew” of overruns, questioned why she had not detailed them, and dismissed her concern such venues and funding deals would be reviewed by the new infrastructure authority.

“Queenslanders, under [federal and state] Labor’s plan, will be forced to foot the bill, and I’m not going to have it,” the Kawana MP, who also now holds responsibility for infrastructure, said.

“And Catherine King can write all the letters she wants. The reality is these projects are federally and state funded, and they should have been transparent with Queenslanders.”

Bleijie reiterated the LNP’s support for the Kawana stadium upgrades and his concern about the location of the indoor stadium – which colleagues had suggested should be built in Maroochydore.

Another perspective

In a statement, Miles pointed to the LNP’s campaign promise about project delivery.

King was contacted for comment, but said in her letter to Bleijie this week that it was her “expectation” funding deals would continue as planned.

She also warned that the 100-day review, to take community feedback and not set to begin until the new authority is appointed in coming weeks, would only increase delays and costs to taxpayers.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli released a statement of her own echoing these concerns on Thursday, with early works already under way on the Kawana indoor sports centre site.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has this week upped pressure on the new LNP government to open the 100-day review up to considering a new stadium in the capital.