Brisbane being named host of the 2032 Olympic Games was once hailed as a crowning achievement for Queensland, but mounting concerns about delays, skyrocketing costs, and political infighting have raised major concerns.
Former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who played a pivotal role in securing the Games, spoke to Channel Nine's Today Show and voiced her concern after being asked how the 2032 Olympics had become such a "hot mess".
"It actually makes me quite sad," Palaszczuk said on Thursday.
"Something that I was so pleased with when we secured it for Brisbane, Queensland, and Australia — an inclusive Games — has now turned into this huge fight over stadiums for goodness’ sake.
"There was a plan, the plan was submitted to the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The IOC ticked off the plan, and now you have nearly every single mayor reviewing it. It’s going to cost billions and billions of dollars that Queenslanders don’t have because of cost-of-living pressures."
Among her criticisms was the handling of The Gabba venue redevelopment.
According to Palaszczuk, tenders for the proposed Olympic stadium were supposed to be underway by now.
Instead, new proposals have shifted focus to other venues, including Victoria Park — a decision she believes will provoke outrage.
"It’s the last piece of pristine greenness in our city, and now it’s being ripped up for stadiums."
Brisbane secured Olympics under new framework
The IOC awarded Brisbane the 2032 Summer Olympics in July 2021. In a historic moment, it marked the first time an Australian city had hosted the Games since Sydney in 2000.
The bid leaned heavily on the IOC’s post-pandemic framework, which emphasises sustainability and cost-efficiency, focusing on using existing infrastructure.
Under the original plans, most of the required venues in Brisbane were already in place, reducing the need for extensive construction.
"There was a plan, there was a new norm, we had 80 per cent of our stadiums and frankly, I’m pretty annoyed about how it’s turned out," Palazczuk said.
Queensland government blames budget black holes
However, the Queensland government claims it uncovered a "massive budget black hole" left by the former state Labor government to build the athlete villages for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The former Palaszczuk-Miles Labor Government only allocated $155 million to build suburban streets and paths for the proposed villages, leaving a staggering $3.345 billion funding shortfall," Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said in a statement.
"Labor must come clean with Queenslanders and explain whether they either forgot that more than 22,000 athletes needed accommodation or if they deliberately misled Queenslanders before the election."
Political football v Olympic legacy
Palaszczuk said: "The former prime minister Scott Morrison and I agreed on who was going to be on the Olympic Committee. We agreed on funding. We secured funding. And now it’s just become this political football."
The Brisbane Games were intended to cement the city’s reputation on the global stage, bringing economic, cultural, and social benefits.
However, Palaszczuk says the challenges of delivering on this promise are becoming increasingly daunting.
"If I were at the IOC right now, I’d be saying: 'What is going on Brisbane?' This isn’t just Brisbane or Queensland’s Games. It’s Australia’s Games. Everyone needs to pull together."
