Pauline Hanson. Photo: Getty
Camera IconPauline Hanson. Photo: Getty Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

Hanson’s plan to block Australian Olympic bid

AAPWestern Suburbs Weekly

THE Queensland premier’s office has dismissed One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s efforts to derail the state’s bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games bid by launching a statewide advertising campaign as “nonsense”.

The state government announced its pitch for the games in December as part of a South East Queensland joint bid, featuring facilities across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Senator Hanson slammed the bid as “irresponsible” revealing a statewide advertising campaign covering at least 50 billboards with the message: “2032 Brisbane Olympics, regional Queensland says NO”.

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“The feedback I’m getting from everyday Queenslanders is that they’re not interested in hosting the Olympics, and instead would prefer the money be spent on drought-proofing the state,” Senator Hanson said.

The bid proved the prime minister and the premier have lost touch with everyday Queenslanders, she said.

“Stuff spending tens of billions on stadiums and entertainment centres across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. The people want water projects like a hybrid version of the Bradfield Scheme so that towns right across Queensland don’t run dry ever again.”

Senator Hanson dismissed hosting the games as being a “glamour project” and claimed no modern Olympics have run under budget.

“The decision to chase the Olympics, despite having no idea about the costs, while ignoring the many other desperate needs of the people, is irresponsible, selfish and shows an extreme lack of leadership from both Annastacia Palaszczuk and Scott Morrison.”

However, the Queensland premier’s office has dismissed Ms Hanson’s comments as “nonsense” and say the cost of staging the games was wholly funded by the International Olympic Committee.

“The IOC will pay some $2 billion for the cost of the Games, so they are revenue neutral,” a spokesman for the premier said.

“It’s not about the few weeks competition, it’s about the years leading up to it and the years after – 10 years of preparation and 10 years of celebration.”

Market research shows the Games could bring up to $10 billion of added tourism to Queensland.

“It’s nonsense. Pauline sows divisions when we need unity, that’s her whole way being,” he said.

“We have local, state and federal governments agreeing on something – that’s pretty rare and they are all working together to deliver this and the beneficiaries are the people who get the jobs.”

Queensland’s Council of Mayors was also highly critical of Senator Hanson’s comments, insisting the decision to back the bid was based on analysis and research – not populism.

“Self-serving political commentary does nothing to support or advance the interests of Queensland,” it said in a statement.