Nearly two-thirds of Queenslanders doubt the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games can be delivered within its set budget, according to exclusive polling conducted for this masthead.
The state LNP government has long insisted its 2032 delivery plan, jointly funded by the Commonwealth, would be delivered within the agreed $7.1 billion funding envelope.
But the Resolve Political Monitor survey of 434 Queensland voters, conducted between October 6 and 10, found the Crisafulli government’s messaging had failed to assuage voter concerns about cost blowouts over the next six years.
Just 24 per cent are confident the Games would stay on budget, compared with 63 per cent who are not. The remaining 13 per cent are unsure.
The divide is even more stark among those with stronger feelings about the Games budget. Only 4 per cent are “very confident” the Games will be delivered on budget, while 36 per cent are “not at all confident”.
When confronted with the polling, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie insisted voters had nothing to be concerned about.
“Unlike [former Labor premier and current opposition leader] Steven Miles’ flip-flopping, fake plan and repeated budget blowouts, we’re focused on delivering the infrastructure Queensland needs with financial discipline and transparency,” he said.
“Venues will be delivered within the $7.1 billion funding envelope, as agreed with the federal government.”
The Miles government scrapped an earlier Labor plan to rebuild the Gabba in favour of having the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as Brisbane 2032’s main stadium. Shortly after its election, the Crisafulli government conducted a 100-day review to eventually settle on a new stadium at Victoria Park.
Overall, the Resolve polling shows confidence in the state’s ability to deliver the 2032 Olympics within or close to its $7.1 billion budget remained low across all major voter groups.
The most sceptical respondents were One Nation supporters, of whom 74 per cent expected the Games to go over budget. It also had the largest cohort of not-at-all confident voters, at 50 per cent. Just 15 per cent of One Nation voters expected the Games to come in on budget – 6 per cent were very confident, and 9 per cent were fairly confident.
The most optimistic respondents were largely from the left side of politics, with 29 per cent of Labor and Greens voters expressing confidence – the same percentage as uncommitted voters – closely followed by LNP voters on 28 per cent.
Of those confident Labor voters, only 6 per cent were very confident, with the remaining 23 per cent “fairly confident”. A quarter were not very confident, but the single biggest cohort – 30 per cent – had no confidence whatsoever.
Among Greens supporters, about 29 per cent were confident the Games would be delivered on or close to budget (6 per cent very confident, 24 per cent fairly confident). However, 60 per cent were not confident, including 34 per cent who were “not at all confident”.
Even among supporters of the governing LNP, sceptics outnumbered believers more than two to one. Twenty-eight per cent expressed confidence the Games would be delivered within budget, but just 3 per cent were “very confident”, while 25 per cent were “fairly confident”. A clear majority, 61 per cent, were not confident, including 29 per cent who were devoid of confidence.
In marginal seats, 64 per cent expected costs to soar above $7.1 billion, with 41 per cent “not at all confident” costs could be reined in. Just 23 per cent thought expenditure would stick to budget.
Former premier Campbell Newman, who shared a cabinet table with Crisafulli and Bleijie during his time in the state’s top job, has long warned of potential cost blowouts at the Victoria Park site.
Newman said the poll numbers showed “the public seem to get” it would be difficult to deliver the Games on budget.
“I find it quite remarkable that self-identified LNP voters don’t believe they’re going to deliver on budget – that’s very telling,” he said.
“I would have been horrified when I was in political office, whether it be City Hall or the state, if that was the view of me and my government.
“We’re entitled to expect better, a lot better, and an LNP government should be absolutely committed to being responsible with our dollars.”
Newman said Queensland’s recent credit downgrade was a direct result of the government “abandon[ing] any sense of fiscal responsibility” when it came to the Games.
Miles also cited the credit downgrade when asked about the poll numbers.
“S&P Global warned David Crisafulli that an Olympic blowout would result in a further credit rating downgrade, costing Queenslanders millions of dollars in extra interest payments,” the opposition leader said.
“The premier must release the true cost of the Olympics after promising to be open and transparent before the election.”
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