New cabinet, minus Bailey, to ‘reflect’ on Gabba amid pause and review

The incoming Miles government would “reflect” on the $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild project, would-be deputy Cameron Dick says, under a pause and review of Brisbane 2032 Olympics infrastructure projects.

It comes as long-time minister Mark Bailey announced he would not be in the new cabinet when it formed and hoped his departure would allow the promotion of “talented younger MPs”.

Premier-to-be Steven Miles has moved swiftly since the resignation announcement of his outgoing boss Annastacia Palaszczuk to change course and set up an independent body to co-ordinate Games projects.

The state government decision to go it alone with delivering Games infrastructure marked a departure from assurances given to the International Olympic Committee as part of the bid, and has sparked controversy around the Gabba and other projects since.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday to release the midyear budget update, Dick was asked if the government would reconsider the Gabba plans if the promised 60-day review raised issues.

“Look, let’s take it one step at a time ... I think we need to pause, I think that’s what the deputy premier [Miles] has announced publicly,” Dick said.

“We’re going to pause on the projects. We’re just going to have a review, we’re going to take our time to consider that, and we’re going to set up that independent authority.

“So, there are some moving parts there that we’re going to reflect on as a new government and I think colleagues need to have the opportunity to consider that, and we’ll consider that as a new cabinet in due course.”

Greens MPs, who have at multiple levels of government been campaigning against the stadium rebuild, its displacement of an adjoining school and broader local disruption and costs concerns, seized on Dick’s comments and planned to rally outside parliament on Thursday.

Later on Wednesday, Miles said all the advice he had received was that the Gabba redevelopment – flagged since at least 2018 – was needed for the city to host the Olympic Games.

“But I think it is reasonable for us to be absolutely assured of that before we finalise those tenders,” he said.

“I want to be absolutely assured that it is the best value outcome for Queenslanders and I want to make sure that we have a good displacement plan for the Brisbane Lions and our cricket teams to make sure that they have somewhere good to play in the time that needs to happen.”

Miles said he was still waiting for Friday’s caucus meeting of Labor’s 52 state MPs before a new cabinet was sworn in. “Then we will have a chance to get in and make those kinds of changes,” he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bailey became the second minister to announce they would not feature in the new-look cabinet. He had spent six years as transport minister, becoming the longest-serving transport minister since the 1980s, and almost nine years in Palaszczuk’s ministry.

Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, who is not contesting the October 2024 election, will also be absent from the new cabinet. Miles is expected to make a lengthy speech outlining his vision for his government, and the state, on Monday.

With Tony Moore

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