The Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles, announced an independent review to assess the suitability of current sports venue projects identified in the Master Plan for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The review was intended to assist the Queensland government in ensuring investments made in sports venues for the hosting of the Games are affordable, fit-for-purpose, deliverable, and create a substantial legacy with benefits for Queensland communities.

The Review Panel has analysed the technical assessments, business cases and community response to all proposed new and upgraded venues that would require significant public investment. It has considered more than 900 public submissions, met with 130 stakeholders, sporting groups and community organisations (Appendix – List of Meetings), and inspected 28 proposed venue sites (Appendix – List of Sites Visited).

Each venue investment has been critically assessed to ensure that the community realise lasting advantage from the public infrastructure. Great care has been taken to prioritise legacy venues that deliver long-term community dividend and are suitable for community and sporting activities beyond the temporary needs of Olympic and Paralympic Games competition.

Key recommendations:

• As a matter of urgency, the Panel encourages the Queensland government to clarify and confirm funding arrangements with the Australian Government to ensure, subject to appropriate due diligence processes, that the resources are available to facilitate the revised portfolio of works.
• The Panel endorses the Queensland government’s plans to establish a dedicated delivery authority to provide appropriate governance and oversight for major projects and reiterates the importance of having this agency operational as soon as practicably possible in 2024.
• Venue projects that have been thoroughly planned, with completed Business Cases or Project Validation Reports, should be enabled to immediately progress to procurement.
• The Queensland government is encouraged to consider a multi-track approach to project development and consider a delivery partner approach to project delivery in order to complete the builds in the shortest possible time, noting that, at this time of high-cost escalation, quicker delivery means much lower cost.

The Queensland government has announced:

• Go ahead for new Brisbane Arena in a different location at Roma Street precinct.
• Upgrades planned for the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) and Suncorp Stadium, subject to due diligence and consultation with games partners.
• Exploring legacy transport opportunities to link QSAC, QEII hospital, and Griffith University with connected precincts in the city.
• Proposed new stadium for Victoria Park ruled out.
• The 'Gabba' rebuild will not proceed.