Premier Steven Miles concedes Gabba rebuild not his preferred option as 2032 Olympics infrastructure review gets underway

Queensland’s premier has conceded he would prefer the Gabba stadium isn’t demolished and rebuilt for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as former lord mayor Graham Quirk is tasked with reviewing the Games master plan.

The Gabba redevelopment is estimated to cost $2.7 billion, with the controversial plan coming under fire for the price and the displacement of cricket and AFL sporting codes and a local school.

Premier Steven Miles said he hoped an independent 60-day review of the master plan would find an alternative to knocking down the stadium.

“My preference is to find a better value-for-money outcome, that has always been my preference,” he said.

“If this review comes back and says there is a better way, then that’s fantastic news and I welcome that.”

Mr Miles was pressed on why, as the former Minister for Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure, he had signed off and publicly supported the stadium’s demolition.

“I signed off on an option that was consistently advised was the best outcome,” he said.

“Now I’m saying I would like new advice, I would like independent advice.”

Mr Miles said he was concerned about the cost of the project, but was confident it wouldn’t blow out further.

“When the cost came in at $2.7 billion obviously I was concerned, that’s a lot of money,” he said.

“I repeatedly asked if there were any other options, and all the options that were brought back cost similar amounts for a worse outcome.”

Head of review appointed

The state government has called in a former LNP lord mayor of Brisbane to spearhead the review, which is due to be done by March 18.

It will look into the controversial Brisbane Arena project, as well as a raft of new and upgraded minor sports venues.

Mr Miles announced plans for the review on his first day in the top job last month.

Mr Quirk, who led the city from 2011 until 2019, played a key role in pushing for the Games to come to Brisbane.

The government said the review will assess investment in 2032 Games venues according to “key criteria”, which includes value for money, fitness for purpose, deliverability, and community legacy.

Mr Miles said the Olympics “are a chance for us to unite, but it has become divisive”.

The premier also admitted the state government underestimated the impact the rebuild would have on major sporting codes like cricket and AFL, which would need to find alternative venues for years.

“That’s one of the things that has led me to make this decision to review the plan,” Mr Miles said.

“I think its a good thing that a leader is willing to say, ‘maybe we got that wrong, can someone else have a look at it’.”

‘We’re not going to pre-empt the outcomes’

The review findings will be given to State Development Minister Grace Grace, who is the minister responsible for the Games.

“We’re not going to pre-empt the outcomes of this review, which I know will be carried out without fear or favour,” Ms Grace said.

In recent months, the government had come under pressure over its handling of the Gabba redevelopment.

In December, incumbent Brisbane LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner – who is Mr Quirk’s successor and former deputy mayor – withdrew his support for the stadium rebuild.

The Greens have also been outspoken against the project.

As part of the planned rebuild, East Brisbane State School – which is located right next to stadium – is set to be relocated to a new site at Coorparoo, a move opposed by the P&C.

In a marked departure from his predecessor Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mr Miles elected not to make himself Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games when he became premier last month.

He also promised to establish a delivery authority that will be responsible for the Games infrastructure.

Lord mayor backs review

Speaking on ABC Radio Brisbane, Mr Schrinner said the premier had told him last week Mr Quirk would lead the review, which had his “full support”.

“We need to get the Games on track, and we need to remember what this was really about in the first place.

“This was always about the legacy of better transport that we can get for our whole region, and sadly it became about high-price stadiums.”

Mr Schrinner would not be drawn on what stadium alternatives should be explored beyond the Gabba.

“If I start throwing my two cents in today, then it’s not going to be the independent arm’s-length process, is it?” he said.

“Let Graham Quirk and his colleagues do that job.”

The state opposition said the government should never have backed the proposal.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie said there should be more of a focus on transport infrastructure.

“The terms of reference specifically exclude these reviewers from looking at rail and road infrastructure,” he said.

“Remember when Steven Miles promised that everyone across Queensland would benefit from Olympic and Paralympic Games? He also promised we would have generational infrastructure in terms of rail and road infrastructure.

“If botching things up was an Olympic sport stuff-up, Steven would win gold.”