Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is comfortable with oversight of the Brisbane Olympics, with a Senate committee set to take a deeper look even though the opposition claims it is ad hoc.
Albanese said it was important that the investment in the 2032 Games provided a return to Queensland once the competition was over.
“I feel comfortable with the mechanisms that are in place, I met with (organizing committee chair) Andrew Liveris, I met with the prime minister, I met with the deputy prime minister and now we have a funding agreement. in the future,” he said in Brisbane.
“I am a huge supporter of the Brisbane Olympics, this is an opportunity to showcase this global city and global state to the world.”
The prime minister’s comments follow confirmation of a Senate inquiry into Games planning, spending and infrastructure development.
Coalition infrastructure spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said the inquiry was necessary due to concerns about the Queensland government’s “opaque and ad hoc decision-making”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after signing the Olympic Games funding deal.Credit:AAP
“It was announced last month that the Queensland Premier had decided not to have an independent oversight body, despite the fact that one was part of the IOC agreement for the Games,” McKenzie said.
“External accountability is necessary for an event of this scale.”
