The estimated price tag was $1 billion to increase the capacity from about 36,000 to 50,000.
Ms Palaszczuk said legislation was being drafted to set up an independent agency that would spearhead infrastructure projects once the Olympics was awarded.
“Honestly,the Gabba is a no-brainer and that will absolutely go ahead,” she said.
An artist's impression of the proposed Woolloongabba underground rail station as part of Cross River Rail.Credit:
“It is linked in with our transport,Cross River Rail,it makes sense and will be utilised for decades to come for Queenslanders and Australians to enjoy sporting matches after the Olympics.”
But Mr O’Brien said the federal government did not yet have a view about the Gabba as an Olympic venue.
“I have no in-principle opposition to the notion of using the Gabba,but I have not seen the designs and the state proposed a $1 billion price tag last week without a business case,” he said.
“This needs to be done differently if we are going to make the Olympics work.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Olympic infrastructure authority would “take the politics” out of announcements.
“We anticipate it will need to be established by statute at both state and federal levels with equal representations and governance of federal and state governments,” Mr Morrison said.
“That means there will be joint decisions on;what projects,where,what the scoping is,the costings,the contracting and the delivery.
“This will be a highly-competent agency,a lot like what we saw in the Olympic co-ordinating authority in New South Wales.
“The difference was,that was run by the state government because the state government was paying for it.”
In February,the Gabba was included as a possible venue in theInternational Olympics Committee’s feasibility assessment of the bid,but a proposed new stadium at Albion featured more prominently as a possible main venue for athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Gabba’s proximity to a new underground Cross River Rail was viewed as a major advantage for the southside stadium.
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The state and federal governments have agreed to create a jointly run Olympic infrastructure agency,which Mr O’Brien said would assess any business case.
“If the federal government is going to be signing cheques along the way,we want a seat at the table commensurate with the investment we might be making,” he said.
“This is really important for ensuring that we maximise the benefits of the Games,because not only will the federal government bring a fiscal discipline and a laser focus on the Olympics’ new norms,which discourages unnecessary spending,but we will also be in a position to help guide some of the bigger-picture decisions that need to be made along the way.”
Mr O’Brien said if the Queensland Olympics bid was successful,which should be known within months,the Olympic co-ordinating committee would be formed before the “end of 2021”.
An SEQ Council of Mayors spokesman said while the organisation was yet to see details of such an authority,it was critical for councils be involved as the level of government closest to the community.
- with Lydia Lynch and Matt Dennien