Queensland Premier suggests major Brisbane Olympics venue contracts could be delayed until after state election

Queensland Premier Steven Miles may wait until after the upcoming state election to lock in a major upgrade to a key venue for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Having last week committed to a redevelopment of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) in suburban Brisbane as the centrepiece athletics venue for the 2032 Games, Premier Miles has said that the building contracts for the venue may now be delayed until after the state’s election on 26th October.

With the cost and location of the main 2032 Games venue being highly contentious, the delay may mean the final decision on the venue may rest with a new administration.

However, construction on less controversial legacy venues is expected to commence within months.

Speaking on ABC Radio Brisbane yesterday, Premier Miles suggested he was open to delaying his plans to revamp QSAC until after the October election, commenting "I've offered to engage with the leader of the opposition to make sure that he's fully briefed and understands our plans.

"If he asked us to delay the tender on that one, we'd consider that request depending on what that meant for the finishing time frame.

"The message I've heard is that it's time to get on and do these things now that we know what we are going to do."

Premier Miles indicated projects he believes are not contentious - including smaller community sporting venues and regional stadium upgrades - would be locked in before the October poll, adding “they will start going to tender from April.

"We want to get on with those and we want to see those delivered.

"In fact, I'd like to see construction underway on some of them prior to the election."

Opposition leader David Crisafulli last week said he did not support a new stadium for the Games, vowed to set up an independent coordination authority that would be tasked with conducting a 100-day review of the Games' venues.

Images: The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (top, credit: Rekortan) and Queensland Premier Steven Miles (below).