‘Bushwhacked’ by state govt

Feds blindsided by Palaszczuk’s billion-dollar Games ‘thought bubble’

Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s plan to demolish and rebuild the Gabba for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games was a billion-dollar “thought-bubble” that blindsided the federal government.

That is according to Senator Richard Colbeck, speaking outside a senate inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host the Games.

Asked if it seemed like the Gabba was a “thought bubble” from Ms Palaszczuk, Mr Colbeck said: “I would say that the evidence to date is that is exactly all it was”.

He explained the situation the then-sports minister and former prime minister Scott Morrison were confronted with three years ago: “We were completely bushwhacked by the Queensland Government when they announced the decisions to put the Gabba on the table for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

“And might I say, so were the International Olympic Committee – who came in, and said ‘what on earth is going on?’”

Former Brisbane lord mayor

Graham Quirk, who was appointed by Premier Steven Miles to lead a 60-day review of Games infrastructure, was one of several witnesses called on Wednesday. Senator Matt Canavan, put it to Mr Quirk that there was a “shadow review” conducted while his independent review was under way. Mr Quirk said that on the same day he announced his recommendation for a new stadium at Victoria Park, the Premier told the media he had been working with public servants on an alternative.

“The panel did not know that at all, it was a complete blindside for us,” he said.

Olympics supremo John Coates also fronted the inquiry, where he said State Development Minister Grace Grace told him on March 15 that the government was going to reject the Victoria Park option, and go with Mr Coates’ preferred upgrade of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

That was three days before Mr Quirk’s review became public.