Brisbane 2032 success: What will taxpayers bear?
The Australian Minister for Sport is in Paris to try and figure out how to make Brisbane 2032 a success.
A senate estimates committee has heard the cost of a proposed $1.6 billion Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre renovation could increase, with the State Government already under fire over muddled planning eight years out from the event.
Anika Wells said Australia wants world class facilities, but what price are we prepared to pay for it?
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The Brisbane 2032 render has been slammed and the clock is counting down. Nine
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"There's obviously absolute merit to building world class stadiums for the Games, it's always just a question of what taxpayers will bear with respect to the cost burden on them," she told Today.
She said sometimes that comes off beautifully, for example with Paris 2024, where only two new venues needed to be built for the Games.
But then in other instances such as Rio 2016 or Athens 2004, they are still dealing with the fallout years later.
"I met with the Brazilian Sports Minister about how they're still dealing with the legacy that Rio left for them, so it can go either way and I think, of course, we want world class venues but at what price are we prepared to pay for it as a country?" she said.
Anika Wells said it's a question of what taxpayers will fork out. Today
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"It's eight years and counting and that is part of why I'm here, to have those conversations about what they know now and in Paris, they have these incredible landmarks, but will Brisbane's Story Bridge, the bin chickens and bull sharks compare?
"It's about what we are bringing and I think what we're bringing is the people, for example Sydney 2000 wasn't about the structure projects, it was about the volunteers."
Watch the full chat with Anika Wells in the video above
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