Latest news with #StevenMiles
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane's abandoned 2032 Olympic Games
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre Crisafulli was not the only premier to ignore the advice of a review he commissioned. Then-premier Steven Miles was widely criticised last year when he rejected the Quirk review's recommendation to build an Olympic stadium at Victoria Park and chose instead to host the Games' marquee events at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, formerly QEII Stadium. QSAC, which hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games, would have been demolished to make way for a permanent, 14,000-seat athletics facility. Loading During the Olympics, temporary seating would have increased the capacity to 40,000 – the smallest Olympic stadium since Amsterdam 1928. All up, the project would have cost $1.6 billion – and that was before public transport improvements, which Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said would cost about $400 million, were factored in. The QSAC gambit received even more criticism last July, when this masthead revealed preliminary designs via a photocopied black-and-white image obtained via an earlier RTI application. Now, the high-resolution version can be revealed, along with a less fully formed concept that included a roof over all stands. The concepts are now moot, with Crisafulli accepting GIICA's recommendation that a stadium be built at Victoria Park, despite a pre-election promise that no new stadiums would be built for the Games. Crisafulli told the Property Council lunch on Tuesday that retaining QSAC would have been the 'politically convenient' choice for his new government. 'There is no way in God's name that to go and spend a bucketload of money on temporary stands at that venue would either be a legacy play, nor would it make us look like a grown-up, mature city when the eyes of the world are on us,' he said. 'So I took the decision that I would wear the political heat for it. I owned it and I have been genuinely heartened by people who have absorbed why the decision was taken.' The Miles government had planned to upgrade Suncorp Stadium ahead of Brisbane 2032 as the host venue for the opening and closing ceremonies. According to renders captured in this masthead's RTI request, those upgrades would not dramatically change the 52,500-seat venue, which was largely rebuilt more than 20 years ago. The upper corners would have been filled in with new screens, while a giant screen would have been installed overlooking the Caxton Street plaza outside the stadium. But while Suncorp Stadium upgrades no longer feature in the government's 2032 delivery plan, the upgrades could still be on the table. 'Suncorp Stadium is a world-class stadium, and we're not going to let it wither on the vine ahead of 2032,' Crisafulli said when he unveiled the Games delivery plan in March. 'It will continue to be a world-class stadium and we will invest in it.' Indoor Sports Centres Chandler's old outdoor velodrome was set to make way for an indoor sports centre as part of a $257 million overhaul of the erstwhile Commonwealth Games precinct before the 2032 Olympics. But the GIICA review found space constraints on the site would have added 'significant cost' to the project. 'While there is a strong legacy argument for developing an indoor sports centre at Chandler Sport Precinct, this is not an operationally viable option for Games time,' the GIICA report found. The planned Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre, near the outdoor stadium at Kawana, has been scrapped in favour of the planned Horizon Centre at Maroochydore. It was a reversal of a 2023 Palaszczuk government decision to go with the Kawana sports precinct, which would have been under construction this year. The proposal had the support of then-Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson and local sporting groups.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Brisbane's abandoned 2032 Olympic Games
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre Crisafulli was not the only premier to ignore the advice of a review he commissioned. Then-premier Steven Miles was widely criticised last year when he rejected the Quirk review's recommendation to build an Olympic stadium at Victoria Park and chose instead to host the Games' marquee events at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, formerly QEII Stadium. QSAC, which hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games, would have been demolished to make way for a permanent, 14,000-seat athletics facility. Loading During the Olympics, temporary seating would have increased the capacity to 40,000 – the smallest Olympic stadium since Amsterdam 1928. All up, the project would have cost $1.6 billion – and that was before public transport improvements, which Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said would cost about $400 million, were factored in. The QSAC gambit received even more criticism last July, when this masthead revealed preliminary designs via a photocopied black-and-white image obtained via an earlier RTI application. Now, the high-resolution version can be revealed, along with a less fully formed concept that included a roof over all stands. The concepts are now moot, with Crisafulli accepting GIICA's recommendation that a stadium be built at Victoria Park, despite a pre-election promise that no new stadiums would be built for the Games. Crisafulli told the Property Council lunch on Tuesday that retaining QSAC would have been the 'politically convenient' choice for his new government. 'There is no way in God's name that to go and spend a bucketload of money on temporary stands at that venue would either be a legacy play, nor would it make us look like a grown-up, mature city when the eyes of the world are on us,' he said. 'So I took the decision that I would wear the political heat for it. I owned it and I have been genuinely heartened by people who have absorbed why the decision was taken.' The Miles government had planned to upgrade Suncorp Stadium ahead of Brisbane 2032 as the host venue for the opening and closing ceremonies. According to renders captured in this masthead's RTI request, those upgrades would not dramatically change the 52,500-seat venue, which was largely rebuilt more than 20 years ago. The upper corners would have been filled in with new screens, while a giant screen would have been installed overlooking the Caxton Street plaza outside the stadium. But while Suncorp Stadium upgrades no longer feature in the government's 2032 delivery plan, the upgrades could still be on the table. 'Suncorp Stadium is a world-class stadium, and we're not going to let it wither on the vine ahead of 2032,' Crisafulli said when he unveiled the Games delivery plan in March. 'It will continue to be a world-class stadium and we will invest in it.' Indoor Sports Centres Chandler's old outdoor velodrome was set to make way for an indoor sports centre as part of a $257 million overhaul of the erstwhile Commonwealth Games precinct before the 2032 Olympics. But the GIICA review found space constraints on the site would have added 'significant cost' to the project. 'While there is a strong legacy argument for developing an indoor sports centre at Chandler Sport Precinct, this is not an operationally viable option for Games time,' the GIICA report found. The planned Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre, near the outdoor stadium at Kawana, has been scrapped in favour of the planned Horizon Centre at Maroochydore. It was a reversal of a 2023 Palaszczuk government decision to go with the Kawana sports precinct, which would have been under construction this year. The proposal had the support of then-Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson and local sporting groups.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Exiled Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan tears up, raises voice in emotional state parliament address
An exiled Labor MP has broken down in Queensland parliament while defending himself over an alleged domestic incident last year. Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan was expelled from the Labor caucus last week, over what Opposition Leader Steven Miles said was a failure to comply with a safe return to work plan. The government moved a motion in parliament today, calling for Mr Sullivan to resign and the plan to be publicly released. The LNP has repeatedly questioned him and the Labor Party in recent weeks, making allegations in parliament that he was involved in an alleged domestic incident and went to court last year. In an emotional speech in parliament, and speaking for the first time as an independent, Mr Sullivan said the alleged incident was not violent, and involved swearing. "And those are why my legal team says they have never seen a matter dismissed so quickly." Mr Sullivan said at the time of the alleged incident, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress sparked by the birth of his second daughter, noting his first daughter had died. "I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare," he said. Mr Sullivan said he remained committed to his former party and wouldn't be resigning, labelling the government "disgusting". "I'm Labor to my core, I don't apologise that I will only vote with the Labor Party," he said. "I will continue to represent my local branch members who pre-selected me and my local community who elected me.' In parliament, Mr Miles said removing Mr Sullivan from the Labor Party was "not a decision taken lightly". He reiterated that the Stafford MP had breached a safe return to work plan and that he would not release it due to containing personal and private information. Mr Miles went on to criticise the government's attacks. "The fact is that the LNP have been trying for some time to politicise this matter," he said. "Rather than do their jobs, the LNP want to play stunts and petty politics. It's time they get on with governing and get out of the gutter." Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie accused Mr Miles in parliament of a "complete lack of leadership". "When the government first raised the issues and the media did, with the member for Stafford, they denied, they again used all sorts of excuses, politicking, scaremongering about the member for Stafford, they protected him," he said. "Then we saw days and days and days, and the pressure build up, and all of a sudden they thought this would all go away just by getting him out of the Labor caucus. He said questions remained over the alleged incident. "The reason we take this issue so seriously, we believe, on this side of the House, the member for Stafford does not deserve to serve in this place," Mr Bleijie said. The government motion passed without a vote, but it did not compel Mr Sullivan to resign or the safe return to work plan to be released.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Ex-premier roasted over RBA take
Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles sparked a heated reaction on social media after expressing support for the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent decision to cut interest rates. On Tuesday, the RBA lowered the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent – the second cut this year. Miles welcomed the move on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and said he was 'pleased to hear' the RBA chose to cut interest rates. 'But I'd now like to see the major banks pass this cut of 25 basis points onto borrowers,' Mr Miles wrote. 'Queenslanders are still struggling with the cost of living. And this cut will help out Queensland families.' However, he was quickly met with a wave of negative comments on X, with some users blaming him and his party for the previously high interest rates and accusing Labor of economic mismanagement. Several also pointed out that the banks moved swiftly to pass on the rate cuts to borrowers. 'They did 1 min after the RBA cut. Stop paying silly political games. That and poor economic management was why you were annihilated at the last election,' one user responded. Queensland Labor Leader Steven Miles praised the Reserve Bank's rate cut but faced swift social media backlash blaming his party for high rates. NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia Other comments included accusations like, 'The crisis that you personally created,' and 'You morons caused these interest rate rises.' Another user wrote, 'Struggling because of inept governments like yours.' However, Facebook users expressed more supportive views, with Tricia Cronan commenting, 'Labor, making Australia great,' and Kimberly Clark adding, 'Yessss its good news.' The major banks confirmed they would pass on Tuesday's rate cut in full to customers with variable rate home loans. NAB was the first to announce the change, cutting its standard variable rate by 0.25 per cent effective May 30, followed closely by ANZ, Westpac, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). Canstar Data Insights director Sally Tindall said she doesn't 'see a world' where the banks wouldn't pass on the cut. supplied. NSW real estate Credit: News Corp Australia CBA Executive Angus Sullivan said the cut would provide 'much needed additional relief' for homeowners. 'When combined with the February rate cut this change should free up some more cash flow for homeowners who need it,' he said. 'We know many have had tighter budgets in recent months and will welcome that additional flexibility.' Financial experts note that while banks generally pass on rate cuts during such economic conditions, they are not legally required to do so and may weigh various business factors when setting their rates. Canstar director of data insights Sally Tindall said in the current climate, she doesn't 'see a world' where the banks wouldn't pass on the cut. 'The banks know better than anyone just how difficult it has been for some of their customers,' Ms Tindall said.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Pass this cut onto borrowers': Former Qld premier Steven Miles' post on RBA rate cut roasted
Queensland Labor leader Steven Miles sparked a heated reaction on social media after expressing support for the Reserve Bank of Australia's recent decision to cut interest rates. On Tuesday, the RBA lowered the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent – the second cut this year. Miles welcomed the move on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and said he was 'pleased to hear' the RBA chose to cut interest rates. 'But I'd now like to see the major banks pass this cut of 25 basis points onto borrowers,' Mr Miles wrote. 'Queenslanders are still struggling with the cost of living. And this cut will help out Queensland families.' Pleased to hear the RBA have chosen to cut interest rates to 3.85% today. But I’d now like to see the major banks pass this cut of 25 basis points onto borrowers. Queenslanders are still struggling with the cost of living. And this cut will help out Queensland families. — Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) May 20, 2025 However, he was quickly met with a wave of negative comments on X, with some users blaming him and his party for the previously high interest rates and accusing Labor of economic mismanagement. Several also pointed out that the banks moved swiftly to pass on the rate cuts to borrowers. 'They did 1 min after the RBA cut. Stop paying silly political games. That and poor economic management was why you were annihilated at the last election,' one user responded. Other comments included accusations like, 'The crisis that you personally created,' and 'You morons caused these interest rate rises.' Another user wrote, 'Struggling because of inept governments like yours.' However, Facebook users expressed more supportive views, with Tricia Cronan commenting, 'Labor, making Australia great,' and Kimberly Clark adding, 'Yessss its good news.' The major banks confirmed they would pass on Tuesday's rate cut in full to customers with variable rate home loans. NAB was the first to announce the change, cutting its standard variable rate by 0.25 per cent effective May 30, followed closely by ANZ, Westpac, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). CBA Executive Angus Sullivan said the cut would provide 'much needed additional relief' for homeowners. 'When combined with the February rate cut this change should free up some more cash flow for homeowners who need it,' he said. 'We know many have had tighter budgets in recent months and will welcome that additional flexibility.' Financial experts note that while banks generally pass on rate cuts during such economic conditions, they are not legally required to do so and may weigh various business factors when setting their rates. Canstar director of data insights Sally Tindall said in the current climate, she doesn't 'see a world' where the banks wouldn't pass on the cut. 'The banks know better than anyone just how difficult it has been for some of their customers,' Ms Tindall said.
