Taxpayers on the hook for Brisbane Olympic organisers debt beyond 2032
Queensland taxpayers will be on the hook for any outstanding debt amassed by the 2032 Olympic Games organising committee, under new laws introduced to State Parliament.
The board of at least 20 directors charged with steering the organising body will also have a permanent seat carved out for outgoing Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, beyond his departure from the role next year.
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner and federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck celebrate the announcement of the 2032 Olympics.Credit:Getty
Responsible for the organisation, promotion and financial management of the events, the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be set up as a statutory corporation.
Like the body responsible for organising the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the Brisbane committee will be exempt from the right-to-information scheme, the sensitive nature of its work cited as justification.
The Palaszczuk government will rush the bill through the parliamentary process within a month, as the host contract stipulates the organising committee must be set up by December 21.
Explanatory notes for the bill also outline that under the host contract, the Queensland government guarantees to cover any potential financial shortfall of the organising corporation once it is dissolved ensure it could deliver the Games and meet “all of its financial obligationsâ€.
The state would also be substituted in to any contract, lease, or legal proceeding the organising was involved in.
“We have an unprecedented 11-year planning runway and we are wasting no time to capitalise on this,†Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament while introducing the bill on Wednesday, after weeks of negotiations with stakeholders including the federal government and Olympic bodies.
Ms Palaszczuk, the recently self-appointed Olympics Minister, also referenced the Games’ expected $8.1 billion windfall for the state and opportunity to accelerate the delivery of long-term plans for the south-east, over which state and federal funding fights have escalated.
Refuted suggestions the Commonwealth could renege on its side of the 50-50 funding commitment if it did not also get equal say over the committee’s make-up - have also added to public tension.
Ms Palaszczuk said the move was a historic step toward bringing the world’s largest event to Queensland and the result of co-operation from all levels of government.
As part of consultation on the bill, changes were made to allow the AOC to nominate either its president or honorary life president â€" a new role drawn up for Mr Coates â€" which would allow him to sit on the board even after departing at next year’s annual meeting.
Under the bill, both the Prime Minister and Premier will jointly nominate five independent board members â€" one to preside over the group and at least one to be Indigenous. Each will also nominate another four directors.
The Lord Mayor of Brisbane will sit on the board along with one nominee. Also on the board must be an athlete who had competed at a recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, with swimming gold medallist Bronte Barratt already named for the former.
The AOC chief executive and the Paralympic Australia president will also have board positions, along with any Australia-based International Olympic Committee members. An even split of men and women will be required among nominated positions, which run for up to four years but open to renewal.
The corporation’s chief executive will be appointed for four years â€" open to renewal â€" on approval by the Premier, Prime Minister and board.
The state Olympic Minister will also be able to give the committee a written direction after notifying the Commonwealth.
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