Australian Greens Senators - additional comments

1.1The evidence before the inquiry to date has continued to show the Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba) knock down and rebuild to be a deeply fraught and unnecessary project undertaken without adequate consultation or consideration of its consequences.

1.2There continues to be overwhelming community opposition to the Gabba redevelopment. This opposition is clear based on evidence from the East Brisbane State School Parents and Citizens (P&C) Group, Friends of Raymond Park, Brisbane Residents United and the West End Community Association. This community opposition continues to be a major liability to the QueenslandGovernment that will negatively impact the success of the 2032Olympic Games.

1.3As an immediate first step, the Queensland Government must scrap the $2.7billion Gabba demolition and redirect this money into long term planning, specifically public housing.

1.4With respect to recommendation 4, updating the focus areas to include regional infrastructure is supported. However, consolidating the environmental focus areas would cause longer term issues for the legacy of the games. It is important that these remain separate with emphasis remaining on their importance.

1.5With respect to recommendation 6, any consideration of future housing for athletes or otherwise must ensure that this housing remains in public hands instead of developers. Considering the evidence that the Olympic and Paralympic Games can accelerate housing unaffordability, any approach must focus on addressing rental and housing unaffordability including through a rent freeze and direct public housing.

1.6With respect to the Commonwealth Games, any federal involvement including a review should prioritise considering from the outset the true cost hosting the Commonwealth Games can have at the expense of investment in regional infrastructure, housing, and public transport.

1.7Any review should look to examples abroad of the continual failures of large‑scale sporting events to transfer any meaningful community benefit in the long term.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne

Substitute Member

Australian Greens Senator for Queensland