Brisbane Olympics plans slammed as ‘half-baked and half-a**ed’ as pressure mounts on Queensland premier amid stadium row over 2032 Games

Plans for the Brisbane Olympics have been dismissed as ‘half-baked’, while the Queensland premier has also been blasted for blindsided an infrastructure review of the 2032 Games.

LNP Senator Bridget McKenzie did not hold back on an inquiry into Australia’s Olympic preparations, saying the Brisbane Games were going in the wrong direction with “lots of money but no building”.

Ms McKenzie was one of several senators on the inquiry panel in Brisbane on Wednesday and told Olympic supremo John Coates that unnamed department insiders had described infrastructure plans for the 2032 Games as “half-baked and half-baked”.

The vice president of the International Olympic Committee declined to comment on the “rude” language during the public hearing.

But Ms McKenzie later agreed with the harsh assessment, saying “nothing has been done” almost three years after Brisbane was named host for 2032.

Plans for 2032 Games described as ‘half-baked and half-baked’

“Based on the evidence I’ve heard so far, it’s half-hearted and half-baked. I think the department officials were right,” she told reporters outside the investigation.

‘The paperwork we’ve seen shows that there are no feasibility studies, there are no business cases, there are no financing agreements, nothing has changed – nothing has been done.’

The senator also took aim at Queensland Premier Steven Miles for holding his own infrastructure review while an independent review was underway.

Former mayor Graham Quirk led the independent review and released its report last month.

However, Mr Quirk told the inquiry he was stunned to discover the Queensland government had been working on its own plan.

Mr Miles has faced widespread criticism for ignoring key findings of the independent inquiry, ignoring advice to build a new $3.4 billion stadium as a centerpiece by 2032 and instead building outdated upgrade stadiums.

Mr Quirk said he became suspicious that the state government was not keen on a new stadium before its review was completed.

“About a week later the panel was told that the government probably did not have a major need for a stadium,” he said.

But he told the inquiry he was unaware the state government had been working on its own site plan behind the scenes.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is under pressure to come up with a strategy

A huge row has broken out over plans for stadiums that will host the Olympic Games in eight years’ time

“The Prime Minister announced… that he had been working with some officials on his proposal in recent weeks,” he said.

“The panel didn’t know that, it was a complete blindside.”

Ms McKenzie said it was worrying that Mr Miles was carrying out a ‘parallel process’.

“This is actually an indictment,” she said.

“We want to see successful Games and I think today we heard disturbing evidence that things are going in the wrong direction.”

The independent review also recommended that the Queensland Sport and Athletic Center not be used for the 2032 Games.

Mr Miles also ignored that, saying he opted for a QSAC upgrade after advice from Mr Coates.

Mr Coates told the inquiry on Wednesday it was his favorite location.

He confirmed he was aware of the government’s QSAC position days before the independent review was handed down.

Mr Coates was unconcerned about the 2032 plans, compared to the successful preparations for the Games in Sydney.

“I’m pretty relaxed about where we are,” he said.

The state government on Wednesday introduced laws to establish an independent Games delivery authority.

It will provide the Games infrastructure and be established mid-year.

Mr Quirk said time was running out to make the 2032 Games a reality.

“I have said every day during this review to every official who will listen… you cannot do business as usual for these Games, you will not make it on time,” he said.