Tourism and Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe is on a week-long trade mission.
Discussions were continuing this week with stakeholders over the state government’s funding proposal,a departmental spokesman said.
The Queensland government on Friday announced the RNA Showgrounds would become a temporary stadium for cricket and AFL while the Gabba was redeveloped for the 2032 Games.
In better times as “a team player”,lord mayor Adrian Schrinner with Annastacia Palaszczuk.Credit:Fairfax Media
However,the funding bombshell was that the Queensland government would fund $47.5 million of the planned $137.5 million redevelopment of the RNA main arena,on land owned by the RNA.
The Queensland government expects the rest of the money to come from cricket,AFL,the RNA and Brisbane City Council.
On Sunday,Brisbane’s lord mayor Adrian Schrinner resigned from akey Games’ 2032 planning body,set up by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk,saying it was “dysfunctional” and confidential information was regularly leaked.
This body was set up in March this year when consultant group Deloitte advised against an independent Games 2032 co-ordination agency,in favour of a body within government.
On Monday,Palaszczuk rang and invited Schrinner to a meeting over his concerns.
Khawaja said he supported the Gabba being upgraded.
“I love the idea of the Gabba being redone – I think it needs to[be done]. The Olympics are coming – how good – so I’m all for that.”
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Khawaja said Queensland Cricket was “rightly concerned” about the loss of revenue and said a “handshake agreement” existed between the government and Queensland Cricket to cover costs.
“From what I know of,there was a handshake agreement that the state government would help with the cost that Queensland Cricket would incur and will incur not playing Big Bash cricket here,a lot of revenue from Test Matches here that we won’t get,” he said.
Khawaja said the association would prefer cricket be played at a revamped “spiritual home” of Allan Border Field with 10,000 seats and not at the RNA.
“We wouldn’t have any ownership of the RNA grounds,we would have nothing with the showgrounds at all,” he said.
“I think they were asking us and Brisbane Lions to put about $100 million into that,and you don’t even own the complex.
“It’s like renting a home for a $100 million and not actually owning the home.”
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