Reactions to the Brisbane 2032 venues announcement
The city and organising committees were pleased with the Premier’s turnaround on building a new venue in Victoria Park, and sporting codes were quick in their praise for the plan.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee (Brisbane 2032) President, Andrew Liveris said the infrastructure plan would deliver Queenslanders a sporting legacy for generations.
“The Games should fit the region, not the region fit the Games, and this infrastructure plan has the long-term best interests of all Queenslanders in mind while delivering a global stage for the Games that will make all Aussies proud,” Liveris said
Liveris said Queensland will finally get a world-class stadium and a permanent swimming and aquatics facility.
Liveris said the Queensland Government has worked closely with the Organising Committee to keep the International Olympic Committee and relevant sporting federations fully briefed on the plan, and they were supportive of moving on to delivery.
“As with any Venue Master Plan for Games, there are always nuances to work through and we look forward to receiving the detailed plans for each venue from GIICA,” he said.
Liveris said he was pleased to see that accessible infrastructure was a focus.
“Accessibility and connectivity of these venues will be critical to creating an inclusive environment during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President Ian Chesterman said today’s decision provides welcome certainty.
“Today’s announcement sets out generational infrastructure that will benefit Brisbane, Queensland and Australia in the lead up to and well beyond the Games in 2032, in line with the IOC’s New Norm principles,” Chesterman said.
“Providing clarity on venues and infrastructure offers a foundation for momentum – allowing Games Delivery partners to get on with the job of preparing for an exceptional Games.”
He said there are “some great outcomes for some of our sports and the athletes who will be delighted about the plans revealed today”.
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The Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner, said the “new vision for Games venues will transform Brisbane into the sporting capital of Australia”.
He said the decision to deliver the Brisbane Arena with private funds is a win/win.
“Queenslanders will finally get an inner-city entertainment venue to replace Boondall while freeing up Federal funding for other important projects in Brisbane,” he said.
“With the plan for venues locked in, the critical next step will be delivering a proper mass transport plan.
“We now need all levels of government working together to deliver a transport legacy that will benefit Greater Brisbane and beyond for generations to come.”
Building industry
While pleased the plan is finally tabled, the construction industry warned that building the infrastructure would be difficult because of today’s conditions.
The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) CEO Jon Davies said Queensland cannot afford further delays caused by slow business cases and inefficient procurement processes.
“Inefficient procurement across the nation is driving delays, cost overruns and contractor insolvencies. If it doesn’t change, we won’t be able to deliver the 2032 Games,” he said.
“To deliver a successful Games, we need a smarter, more efficient approach to construction – one that treats it as a team sport, not a battle of bureaucracy.”
Davies warned that the government must allow the construction industry the freedom to determine the best way to deliver the venues.
“This isn’t about handing over projects and waiting at the finish line—it’s about engaging contractors early and balancing risk to ensure success for all,” he said.
“Government needs to look beyond the lowest tender price and embrace innovation, efficiency and sustainability.”
Master Builders Queensland CEO Paul Bidwell welcomed the news but highlighted the significant pressures facing the building and construction industry.
“We are under great pressure,” Bidwell stated, citing the existing $27 billion capital expenditure budget for 2024/25 and a projected $107 billion over the next four years, alongside a severe housing crisis.
“If we overlay the Olympics… it’s going to be a real stretch,” he said.
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The primary challenge, according to Bidwell, is a critical shortage of skilled workers.
“We think we need close to 20,000 new people each and every year coming into the industry,” he said.
He expressed scepticism about importing tradies, noting past attempts had failed.
Bidwell stressed the need for streamlined processes and the removal of red tape. He specifically criticized the “ethical supplier mandate” and called for the scrapping of the Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC), currently on pause.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint. We need government to support our industry to deliver the legacy of world-class Games infrastructure, so we don’t fall at the final hurdle,” Bidwell said.
“Scrapping BPIC for good would help industry achieve our ‘personal best’ on the big-ticket items for the Games, and other state government projects.”
“The eyes of the world will be on Queensland, and we need government not only to champion our industry, but to collaborate with us as we work to place our state at the top of the winners’ podium.”
Sporting chance
The Brisbane Lions and Queensland Cricket have welcomed the state government’s decision to deliver a stadium at Victoria Park, to replace the ageing Gabba.
Brisbane Lions Chief Executive Officer, Greg Swann said today’s decision is “a step change for the sport and entertainment industry and will deliver a great legacy for decades to come”.
“The Gabba has been a great home for the past 30 years, but the city has outgrown it, the Lions have outgrown it, we’ll top 70,000 members this year and the venue is reaching its end of life,” he said.
“To move forward we need all stakeholders to unite behind 2032 so we can get on with delivering the venues needed to host a great Games and the critical social infrastructure that will benefit Queenslanders for decades to come.”
Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Terry Svenson agreed the Gabba has been a good venue but the challenges the stadium faces are well documented.
“There is now the opportunity for Queensland to attract the world’s best cricket events, such as ICC events, men’s and women’s Ashes Series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India, as well has hosting the BBL and WBBL in a new purpose-built Stadium,” he said.
Paralympics President Alison Creagh said that while the finer details of the report will take some time to fully evaluate, it was clear that accessibility and legacy were being prioritised.
“Paralympics Australia is encouraged by the direction of the Queensland Government’s 100-Day Review, which we believe can be a truly inclusive Games that sets a new global benchmark in universal design,” Creagh said.
“Accessibility cannot be treated as an afterthought or a bolt-on just for the Paralympic Games. It must be embedded in all infrastructure planning from the outset of this new Games Delivery plan, ensuring that millions of Australians and international visitors benefit from a Games that truly delivers for all.”
Creagh said a newly proposed Indoor Sports Facility upgrade at Chandler specifically for Para-Sport was a particularly exciting prospect.
Hockey Australia was quick to endorse the confirmation of the Gold Coast Hockey Centre as the Olympic venue.
Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said that repurposing the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, which was used in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, would bring international hockey back to Queensland.
“Hockey is a top ten global participation sport, our global audience is enormous, and as a sport, we are champing at the bit to start delivering legacy outcomes for Queensland and Australia right now,” he said.
More to come…
