New Queensland govt given short shrift on Games blowout
The door has been slammed shut on more federal funding for Brisbane 2032, with Queensland’s government warned time is running out to build Olympic venues.
The Commonwealth has urged Queensland’s Liberal-National government to scrap its 100-day Olympic infrastructure review and “get on with it” amid complaints of project cost blowouts.
The LNP has written to the Commonwealth detailing escalations in Brisbane Games venue costs, blaming the previous Labor government.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie had indicated there may be room for change to Queensland’s $3.435 billion Brisbane 2032 funding arrangement with the Commonwealth, saying it was up for review in February.
Under the current agreement, the federal government will pay about $2.5 billion for the new Brisbane Arena in the city centre set to host Olympic swimming, and up to $935 million for minor venues.
Federal Workplace Minister Murray Watt was quick to shut down talk of more 2032 Games funding on Tuesday, instead issuing the LNP a warning.
“I think any fair observer would say that (about $3.5 billion) is a pretty fair contribution from a federal government towards an event being staged largely by the state government,” he told the Queensland Media Club.
“I am concerned that having yet another review into something that has been reviewed to death is only just going to result in more delays and more cost blowouts.
“So that’s why we’ve been saying it’s time to get on with it. Time is running out.”
An infrastructure co-ordination authority board is set to be appointed by the end of November, with the 100-day review of all Olympic infrastructure projects to follow.
Its report is expected to be handed to the LNP government by mid-March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named 2032 Olympic host.
Mr Bleijie had announced a number of Olympic venue cost blowouts that he claimed the LNP had unearthed since defeating Labor in the October 26 election.
The latest was an extra $500 million required for Roma Street train station to provide links to Brisbane Arena, costs the deputy premier claimed Labor had hidden.
He also announced $181 million in cost blowouts for Olympic venues planned for Chandler in Brisbane’s south as well as the Sunshine Coast, again blaming Labor.
The deputy premier said on Monday he was keen to work with the Commonwealth but was adamant the LNP government would not cough up more funding beyond the existing $7.1 billion budget to deliver the Games.
But Mr Watt said any extra funding required for Olympic projects would be covered by the Queensland taxpayer.
“They’ve got elected, they’ve got a job to do and I think they should get on with it,” he said of LNP.
“We’ve got an agreement in place. It explicitly said that the cost was capped and the state would be responsible for any increases.”
Mr Bleijie on Tuesday denied asking the Commonwealth to repurpose its Brisbane Arena funding.
Premier David Crisafulli said Brisbane would not deliver a “cut price Games”, promising to deliver “generational infrastructure”.
“I am very confident. The only risk to the delivery of a world class Games … would have been more of the same under the former government,” he said.
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