If the project to overhaul the Gabba Stadium remains a stumbling block between the Queensland Government and the Australian Federal Government, the issue of funding for the Games as a whole is also a serious challenge that the two authorities still have to address in the run-up to the Brisbane 2032 Summer Games.
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After competing at the top of the new selection process introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2019, Brisbane and Queensland were designated in July 2021 to host the 2032 edition of the Summer Games.
Since then, the Organizing Committee has settled, headed by a former leader of Dow ChemicalAndrew Liveriswhile the public authorities engaged in perilous and intense negotiations to reach a framework agreement concerning the financing of the event and the infrastructures.
Fact, despite the importance of the venues – partly inherited from the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games – and the technical quality of the projectthe establishment of the candidacy and its development were ensured by two institutional levels whose composition has since evolved.
If Annastacia Palaszczuk remains Premier of Queensland, Anthony Albanese, on the other hand, took over from Scott Morrison as head of the federal government.. However, despite a common political line, the two leaders from the Labor Party have not yet managed to agree on the distribution of the effort to be made to ensure the holding of the Games.
In the candidacy phase, there had nevertheless been talk of a 50-50 distribution, but the political change that occurred after the legislative elections of May 2022 could in fine reshuffle the cards, or at least develop this scheme towards a case-by-case adaptation, sweeping in fact the idea of traditional co-financing.
So, the federal government has been talking for several weeks about the prospect of a fair contribution. The latter could therefore take the form of guaranteed funding for certain infrastructures necessary for the Games, the others having to be borne by the Queensland government.
In short, each project will have to be studied and sectored according to the good agreement of the two levels, Queensland, for example, may have to fully finance the project to requalify the Gabba Stadium in the Olympic Stadium.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a visit to the Cross River Rail site, Wednesday August 17, 2022 (Credits – Annastacia Palaszczuk / Official Twitter account)On this principle, negotiations are continuing, with regular exchanges being conducted between the parties since the beginning of 2023.
At this stage, the conclusion of an agreement does not seem to be on the agenda, although the actors involved – who once again met in Canberra on Friday 3 February for a meeting including the other Prime Ministers of the Australian States – are confident of an upcoming announcement.
As stated in particular by the Australian Prime Minister, whose remarks were echoed by the « Brisbane Times » :
We have solved problems and what I want to make sure – and I have the experience of having lived [les Jeux de 2000] in Sydney – it’s not just about reflecting on the event that happens over four weeks. It’s about leaving a legacy and infrastructure that not only benefits Brisbane, but the whole of Queensland.
I am very satisfied with the discussions I had with Prime Minister Palaszczuk and we will make appropriate announcements when the time comes, when appropriate.
I am very confident that people will see the Commowealth and the Queensland Government working together for the benefit of the people of Queensland and Australia.
