Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Scarr for his question. I understand his obvious interest in the very exciting bid for the 2032 Olympics that's been proposed, particularly, by the South-East Queensland mayors and the opportunities that the bid will bring to South-East Queensland. There's enthusiasm for the bid from the Prime Minister, and Mr Ted O'Brien has been appointed as the Prime Minister's representative to push the bid forward.

We were delighted to see the Queensland government finally coming on board with some action for participation in the process to bid for the 2032 Olympics. I must say though that they were somewhat lacklustre. The Commonwealth government put $10 million on the table to support this bid during the election campaign. That was welcomed by the mayors of South-East Queensland and, of course, the Australian Olympic Committee. The process has been, I think, very well set up for Australia to be in a very strong position to be successful in its bid. The Queensland government have, effectively, offered some in-kind assistance, but they need to get on board properly. They need to join the Australian government. They need to join the Australian Olympic Committee. They need to join the community of South-East Queensland in being actively supportive of this bid, but they are not. They are putting a very slow time frame on their economic impact survey, which needs to be completed quickly. They're saying they'll do it next year. It should be done this year. We face the possibility of losing the very exciting window that we have to be a leading nation bidding for the 2032 Olympics and losing all of the advantages that would bring to this country. I certainly urge the Queensland government to actively get on board. (Time expired)