The hosting of the Olympics in Brisbane has brought excitement and opportunities to so many, however as Sandy has advocated, we must get the basics right. As all are aware, we are in the middle of multiple crises throughout Queensland straight after fires, the COVID pandemic and floods.

The ongoing housing and rental crisis, combined with increases in cost-of-living, and healthcare and youth justice issues that require substantial extra resources, are all creating trauma; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally, to our residents and across Queensland,

Of major concern, is that every Olympics since 1960 has run over budget while driving up housing costs and displacing residents, with the ‘Go for Gold’ research undertaken by QShelter outlining this, as well the need for 11,000 social and affordable housing to be built every year for the next ten years. Given that there has been no strategy or plan released to address this, or how the impacts from the Games on housing and rentals in Southeast Queensland will be mitigated, this must be a prioritised.

Queensland Parliament Crossbench Statement on the Olympics

As included in our May 2023 Newsletter, the lack of a plan, the demolition and ensuing displacement of residents and students by redeveloping the Gabba, and inequities being experienced, led to Sandy and her fellow Crossbench MPs to releasing a unified statement on 23 May 2023:

The Crossbench called for government to:

  • Formally cap the 2032 Olympic Games budget at no more than the current budgeted $7 billion.
  • Invest an equivalent spend in regions that won’t receive any Olympic infrastructure, to be invested in nation-building infrastructure projects.
  • Immediately make public the entire Host City contract and all relevant business cases for infrastructure and venues.
  • Direct the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy or relevant department to develop and publish an Olympics housing plan to ensure that the Olympics do not drive-up housing costs and displacement, as has occurred in other host cities. In addition, as a legacy for Queensland, any built athlete accommodations must be transferred to either public housing or community housing providers after the Games.
  • Scrap the current $2.7 billion Gabba demolition and redevelopment, move the Olympic and Paralympic athletics events to a more appropriate location such as Carrara, as recommended by the IOC, and ensure that any Gabba upgrades avoid any detrimental impacts on East Brisbane State School, Raymond Park, and neighboring homes and businesses.

To view the official statement from the Queensland Crossbench, please visit https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tp/2023/5723T680-1559.pdf

Response from the Premier

Sandy followed up on the Crossbench Statement with a letter to the Premier who provided below in response:

Formally cap the Brisbane 2032 spend to the $7 billion budget

Taking into consideration the significant financial contributions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other revenues from sponsorship, ticket sales and merchandising, Brisbane 2032 is budgeted to be delivered by the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at no cost to the taxpayer.

The $7 billion you refer to is for infrastructure that will reshape some of Queensland’s most significant venues and precincts, leaving a positive legacy for the community well after 2032. Hosting Brisbane 2032 simply accelerates the delivery of long-term plans to deal with growth across Queensland and to provide community sporting infrastructure.

Invest an equivalent spend in nation-building infrastructure projects in regions

The Queensland Government invests heavily in regional Queensland. Each of our last four budgets has seen more than half of total infrastructure investment go outside greater Brisbane.

In the 2023-24 State Budget, this proportion has risen to a record 65.5 per cent of capital investment outside Brisbane, or $13.3 billion in the next financial year. This investment supports the delivery of Queensland’s biggest transformational projects, as well as essential services for Queenslanders. Major programs being supported include the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the CopperString 2032 transmission line, the delivery of major water infrastructure, and better health and transport facilities and services. This investment underpins Queensland’s future economic prosperity and further supports the transformation of Queensland’s energy system, as well as supporting around 38,500 jobs.

The 2023-24 State Budget also shows that the investment in Olympic venues over the next four years will be less than three per cent of the overall infrastructure program.

Hosting Brisbane 2032 will bring investment to Queensland, including significant benefits for the regions. Brisbane 2032 is projected to inject an additional $4.6 billion in international tourism and trade, and help regional cities secure more international sporting and entertainment events over the next nine years and beyond. Broadcast to over 200 countries, there is no better worldwide advertisement for Queensland, including regional Queensland, than hosting Brisbane 2032.

Cairns, Townsville and Toowoomba will host Brisbane 2032 events, as will the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Redlands and the Scenic Rim. Barlow Park in Cairns and Toowoomba Stadium will receive multi-million dollar upgrades, increasing seating capacity and facilities. Many other regions will also have the opportunity to host teams and training events in the lead up to 2032. More than half of the funds approved for schools under Round 1 of the $100 million Go for Gold Fund will also go to regional schools.

Immediately make the Host City Contract and all relevant business cases for infrastructure and venues public

Marking a significant departure from Sydney 2000 and consistent with IOC’s New Norm reforms, key documents forming the Olympic Host Contract (formerly known as the Host City Contract) have been publicly available since July 2021. This includes the Olympic Host Contract — Principles, the Olympic Host Contract — Operational Requirements, and the response to IOC’s Future Host Questionnaire, which outlines the key commitments made during the candidature in relation to the Master Plan, legacy, sustainability and budget.

I encourage you to access these documents on the website at www.olympies.com  and click on (1) `IOC’ and, under the heading `Olympic Games’, click (2) `Brisbane 2032′, scroll down to the heading `General documents’ and click the (3) `Download’ button beside the document you wish to access.

Develop and publish a housing strategy to address identified needs and ensure any athlete accommodation be transferred to public or community housing providers

I share your concerns about housing and cost-of-living pressures currently being experienced throughout Queensland and nationally. This is reflected in the many measures released in the State Budget to directly address the financial pressures that Queenslanders face.

The Queensland Government has delivered a record $5 billion investment in delivering social and affordable housing and supporting the homeless. The 2023-24 State Budget is providing increased funding of $1.1 billion for the delivery and supply of social housing across Queensland through the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025, including to meet higher construction costs and to boost the QuickStarts Qld program target by 500 homes, bringing it to 3265 social housing commencements by 30 June 2025.

At the Queensland Housing Summit, in October 2022, the Government announced an additional $1 billion boost, taking the underlying investment supporting the Housing Investment Fund to $2 billion, to now deliver 5600 social and affordable home commencements by 30 June 2027.

Brisbane 2032 presents an opportunity to help accelerate housing and meet the needs of Queensland’s growing population. An expanded Woolloongabba Priority Development Area is only possible thanks to hosting Brisbane 2032 and the Gabba redevelopment. It enables better use of State land and the precinct for more social and affordable housing, and it creates jobs. Additionally, after Brisbane 2032, the Brisbane Athletes Village will become a diverse riverfront development, which helps meet the needs of our growing population and includes social and affordable housing.

Move athletics to Carrara as recommended by IOC

The IOC has never recommended that Brisbane 2032 athletic events be moved to Carrara Stadium. During the bid process, and as part of appropriate due diligence, the IOC merely noted that Carrara Stadium could be used as an alternative venue.

The Gabba’s redevelopment is not just for Brisbane 2032. It also directly responds to a report into Queensland’s ageing stadiums and entertainment venues. Completed in 2018, well before our successful bid for Brisbane 2032, the Stadiums Taskforce Report found that The Gabba was a `tired’ venue that would come to the end of its useful life by 2030.

The Gabba redevelopment is about renewing Brisbane’s landmark stadium and investing in Brisbane’s ability to continue to attract national and international sport and entertainment events. Queenslanders will also benefit from job opportunities, during construction, operation, and the flow-on impact that a bigger, better Gabba will deliver for Queensland’s economy.

Unfortunately, it does mean that East Brisbane State School can no longer operate in its current location beyond 2025. I understand this is not what the local community had hoped for, but it is important to note that East Brisbane State School’s current site at The Gabba is constrained and has almost no green space. I can also confirm that the heritage-listed buildings will remain protected, and I am committed to building a new, state-of-the-art school within two kilometers of the current site, which will accommodate future population growth.

Raymond Park at Kangaroo Point has been identified as a temporary warm-up facility for athletes during Brisbane 2032. As these facilities are only temporary, immediately following Brisbane 2032, Raymond Park will be restored and improved where possible. The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council will work with existing adjacent property owners and the broader community to manage impacts before, during and after Brisbane 2032.

Brisbane 2032 has never just been about four weeks of sport. It is about making the most of the years leading up to Brisbane 2032 and the decades that follow, to change Queensland for the better.

Federal Government Inquiry

Sandy welcomes the Federal Government Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee recommendation to urgently review the decision to host athletics events at the Gabba stadium and the associated plans to demolish the East Brisbane State School and temporarily remove community access to Raymond Park. They also said the review should consider the feasibility of alternative options, including using existing infrastructure, and work to find a solution that is acceptable to these communities.

We encourage all interested stakeholders to read the Committee’s full interim report at www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/PreparednessforGames/Interim_report.

Further enquiries, regarding the Federal Government Inquiry, should be directed either to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee direct via rrat.sen@aph.gov.au or via your local Federal MP.

Further Information

For Noosa Electorate Residents wishing to directly advocate regarding the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, please email the Queensland Premier via premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au and  cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au, as well and forward any response you receive to us.

For our Noosa 360 advocacy updates on many matters relevant to our community including Housing, Youth Justice, Health and more, please visit www.sandybolton.com/noosa360.