Clubs unable to wait for report from taskforce

A GOVERNMENT taskforce has been launched to examine Stadiums Queensland’s agreements with clubs – but the clubs say they cannot afford to wait for its results.

The taskforce, headed by Australian Sailing CEO John Lee, is due to report back to Sports Minister Mick de Brenni by the end of the year.

But while welcoming the move, Gold Coast Titans CEO Graham Annesley said the club needed a much quicker solution.

“The Titans support any initiative that will help address the issue ... however, we are currently in a negotiation for a long-term agreement at Cbus that has been ongoing for more than three years,” Mr Annersley said. “Our current interim agreement expires after our home game against the Sharks next weekend”.

Suns chairman Tony Cochrane also said the club needed shorter term solutions. “We welcome this particular inquiry, and are working with the minister’s office to see what we can do about some of the immediate concerns,” he said.

Minister de Brenni said he was seeking to achieve “best value” for Queenslanders.

But Shadow minister for Sport John-Paul Langbroek accused the government of dispensing responsibility.

“Yet again the government has said, we have nothing, so we will give it to a committee to work out,” Mr Langbroek said.