Games win sparks regional concerns

News that Brisbane has secured the 2032 Olympic Games has brought celebrations, along with calls to ensure regional Queensland is not left out in the cold. Townsville Enterprise described hosting an Olympics Games as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that had been touted as having broad-reaching benefit across the State. In the 11-year lead-up, the region would be submitting a formal proposal to both State and Federal Governments on where the opportunities lay for Townsville and the role North Queensland could play for this event, chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said. "We believe the Townsville North Queensland region can play a key role pre, during and post the Games. We have world-class sporting infrastructure, an incredible tourism offering, and a proven track record in hosting large scale and international level sporting events," she said. "This event needs to benefit all of Queensland and the North must have a meaningful role to ensure we can fully leverage the opportunity." Our Fair Share founder, economist Colin Dwyer, has launched a petition aiming to draw attention to the concerns of regional Queenslanders about the negative impacts on them of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. (Petition HERE). "We love the Olympics but we’re worried about the consequences for regional communities," he said. "There is significant risk associated with poor transparency linked to these games and regional Queensland need better information and a better deal." The biggest concern for regional Queenslanders was the reprioritisation of projects and scarce public funds, and the concentration of public investment and net benefits in Brisbane, Mr Dwer said. "What this means is reallocation of resources like skilled workers leading to population retention and asset prices challenges. Add the inevitable urgency factor that will boost costs and hasten the shift of skilled workers and their families and regional Queenslanders have every right the be worried." Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, who has served as the Prime Minister’s representative for the Queensland bid, said hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games would not only inject billions into the economy, it would also create about 120,000 new jobs, including 90,000 jobs for Queenslanders. “Local companies and businesses right across Queensland should take the opportunities which will come over the next decade to contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games," he said. “For Queenslanders, this is our moment and it’s now up to us to make the most of it. “We’ve just won the right to host the biggest show on earth right here on home soil, but this is far larger than two weeks of sport. “It’s about two decades of transformation that only an Olympic and Paralympic Games can unleash – a decade in the lead up to the Games, and a decade beyond.” “As the Games approach, Queensland will be well-positioned to host training camps and Olympic teams as they arrive and acclimatise prior to the start of competition and in the years before the Games. “Construction, services, retail and hospitality will all be winners, and then there are the social benefits from health and wellbeing, social inclusion and improved accessibility for people with a disability.” MP Bob Katter yesterday. Photo Josh Martin Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter yesterday set fire to a mock bomb representing ‘Queensland’s economy’ at a fireworks company in Brisbane in protest at the State Government’s Olympics bid. He said the media stunt was a prelude to the economic disaster that faced the state as its government prioritised ‘absorb money projects’, such as the Olympic Games and more tunnels under Brisbane. Mr Katter said at the same time, the State Government was neglecting to fund ‘make money projects’ like new dams, railway lines into mineral and coal fields, critical roads, power stations and transmission lines. “Tonight they are going to let off firecrackers and have a party along the Brisbane River when the decision is announced that Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics, well their parties are funded by economic activity in North Queensland such as coal mining and the sugar industry,” Mr Katter said. “But the money is soon going to run dry because this Queensland Labor Government is trying to close down coal mining and the sugar industry. “And they sure aren’t creating any new industries because all the money is spent on frivolities in the south-east.”

Games win sparks regional concerns

Industry Queensland

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