Radio Interview – 4BC Brisbane
LAUREL EDWARDS, HOST: Here at 4BC we are the home of the Olympics. We’re very, very excited about that, for in nine years’ time when it will be held right here in Brisbane. And the big boss, he’s put up some money for this and we’re very excited, a massive announcement from the Federal Government today. We’ve got the man himself, our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, good to be here. It is going to be a fantastic day and it will be a great Olympics, it will be so good. And this $7 billion announcement today, jointly with the Palaszczuk government, we’re kicking in 3.4 and a bit billion dollars to make an enormous difference, not just to the Brisbane arena, but to venues right around Queensland as well. It’s going to be a fantastic event for Queensland that will cement Brisbane as a global city. All the focus will be on the Olympics and the Paralympics, but it will leave a lasting legacy as well of better infrastructure and better facilities for young and old into the future.
MARK HINE, HOST: Prime Minister, where do you come up with say $3.4 billion? Is it take from one hand and give to the other hand, you obviously don’t have that money just floating around the back of the lounge or somewhere?
PRIME MINISTER: No, we worked through these issues very carefully with the Queensland Government. When we came to office we found that there wasn’t that much detail, as in there was none, from the former government. They hadn’t done any costings or specific plans, there was no deal in place with Queensland. So we’ve worked really closely with Annastacia and her team to make sure that we get the right projects in the right places. So it’s not just the big venues, it’s upgrades for existing venues like the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Barlow Park up there in Cairns, the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, Toowoomba Sports Ground and others, the mountain bike centre there at the Sunshine Coast, but also for some new venues. There’s going to be a Sunshine Coast indoor sports centre for basketball, and one at Breakfast Creek as well. A Logan indoor sports centre, that’ll be a venue that can be used for a range of sports, Redlands White Water Centre for canoeing. So this will leave a really lasting legacy for Queensland and it’s an investment. But it’s an investment that will produce a return with increased economic activity, increased visitors there. Queensland is such a fantastic tourist destination and this will really showcase the state.
EDWARDS: As you say, when it comes to things like Olympics and Commonwealth Games there is quite often the criticism of ‘oh, we could be spending money on something totally different’, or ‘where are they going to get the money from’. But when we think about it, a lot was said about the Commonwealth Games back in Brisbane in ‘82 and same thing, but it ended up being wonderful for our fair city.
PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely, and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was fantastic as well. So you had that build up, and that showcase, and it brings visitors and economic activity. Not just while the event’s on, but the focus in particularly in the four years leading up to the Games will be very much on Brisbane, and then after the event as well it will continue, so there’ll be, there’s always lead-up events as well. Other countries want to bring their teams to acclimatise to what the conditions are in Brisbane or wherever the events are happening throughout Queensland. So there’s a big economic benefit, not just a cost, it’s got to be seen as an investment. And of course, it’s an investment that the people, some of whom aren’t born yet, will benefit from by having those upgraded facilities. I know that the Sydney Olympics, I’m a Sydneysider of course, the white-water centre and all of that activity out at Penrith, people are still benefiting from. People are benefiting from the stadium there, it’s is going to host the first game of the World Cup Women’s Football. Australia vs Ireland is sold out there now – Sydney didn’t have a venue like that beforehand. So there’ll be an ongoing benefit for Queensland and the idea of the Brisbane Arena as well is that there’ll be a drop-in pool and then once that’s removed it will be an entertainment centre that can be used for concerts, and activities, and events that will really benefit Queenslanders into the future. I’m so excited about today, I think it is so positive and I know that the Queensland Government are up for this, and I think Queenslanders are up for it as well. It’s such a great place for people to visit, they will see I think, people who are training now as well, will see that green and gold runway. They’ll be training hard to be able to perform at the at the Olympics and at the Paralympics, some of whom we don’t know yet. But just remember the way that Cathy Freeman’s run…
HINE: I was there on the night, it was an amazing night.
PRIME MINISTER: I was outside, I couldn’t get a ticket.
HINE: I should have lent you mine.
PRIME MINISTER: I was outside watching it on a big screen and hearing, I’ll never forget it, the noise from inside the stadium that you could hear as well as from outside, so there was a bit of a delay.
HINE: She’d won obviously. And Prime Minister, a final question, the Gabba is being rebuilt. Is that confirmed? Because there has been a lot of speculation on the future of the Gabba and its part to play in the games?
PRIME MINISTER: We’ll be making all of the final announcements in just a very short period of time.
EDWARDS: We might leave that up to you. And very, very briefly, will you get a chance to sit down tomorrow and watch your Rabbitohs play in the 40th Charity Shield up against St George?
PRIME MINISTER: No, unfortunately, I’ve got to work. I’ve got a visit from the Indian Foreign Minister tomorrow. And I have a series of events, there’s a local barbecue for the Voice to Parliament and constitutional recognition on tomorrow in my electorate hosted by my local council. So it’s a very busy day
HINE: Busy running the country.
EDWARDS: All right, well we’ll have to watch it for you. Our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, thanks so much for your time this morning. We look forward to more on the announcement today.