Mander refuses to set timelines amid Olympic cost concerns

Public confidence in Queensland's ability to deliver Brisbane 2032 within its $7.1 billion (€4.45bn) venues budget is under pressure, with the state government declining to publish project deadlines as it negotiates contracts for major developments.

The challenge for Queensland Sports Minister Tim Mander is to convince voters that the government can control costs while keeping parts of its procurement process confidential. A recent Resolve Political Monitor survey found that around two-thirds of Queensland voters had little or no confidence that the state would remain within its promised funding envelope.

The findings, based on responses from 434 voters surveyed between 6-10 October, suggest that scepticism extends across party lines, raising questions about whether repeated government assurances are enough to establish public trust.

Mander has defended the administration's approach, arguing that projects will advance as decisions are finalised rather than according to a publicly announced timetable. "I'm not going to give any deadlines or timetables, it'll happen progressively as these things are all decided," he said on Saturday.

The government's position reflects the complexity of negotiating construction contracts, but it also leaves voters with limited information against which to measure progress. Without publicly available deadlines and detailed project costs, it is more difficult to assess whether developments are advancing as planned. That tension is particularly relevant as the Australian and Queensland governments move from planning towards procurement and delivery.

A funding agreement signed on 17 September covers six approved venue projects: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Logan Indoor Sports Centre, Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, Barlow Park Stadium, Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre and the Redland Whitewater Centre. The agreement sets milestones for the projects, but their individual budgets have been withheld to encourage competitive tendering.

The arrangement highlights the distinction between keeping commercially sensitive information confidential during procurement and providing the public with sufficient information to understand how public money is being spent. Queensland's independent auditor has previously identified significant challenges in preparing the Games infrastructure programme. In its Major projects 2025 report, the Queensland Audit Office noted that, as of June 30, 2025, detailed project validation reports for 11 of the programme's 17 venues were still being developed, while the remaining six were in early procurement.

The report also highlighted workforce constraints across the state's construction sector. Construction Skills Queensland estimated an average shortfall of 18,200 workers over the following eight years, with the gap expected to reach 50,000 in 2026-27. Competition for skilled labour could increase the risk of delays and higher costs across major infrastructure projects.

Such findings predate the latest funding agreement and do not establish that the Games programme is over budget. They nevertheless illustrate the delivery risks facing a large infrastructure programme operating alongside other major construction projects.

The $7.1bn (€4.45bn) allocation covers the Games Venue Infrastructure Programme, with the Australian government contributing up to $3.435bn (€2.15bn) and Queensland providing $3.665bn (€2.30bn). A separate $3.5bn (€2.19bn) programme has been allocated for athletes' villages, underlining the scale of the wider preparations required for the event.

The Brisbane Stadium.Justin Summerfield/GETTY IMAGES

Mander has insisted the government is protecting taxpayers by taking time to negotiate robust contracts. "We are keeping to that budget, that's why we are taking our time to secure the contracts that we are doing, making sure they're as tight as they possibly can be."

He has also pointed to the August announcement of a $287.5 million (€180m) RNA Showgrounds upgrade as an example of the government releasing project costs as developments progress. "Everybody knows the cost of [the RNA Showgrounds upgrades], and that will happen progressively as we head towards the Games," the minister said.

However, the latest polling suggests the government's confidence has yet to translate into widespread public trust. Only 29% of Labour voters and 30% of Greens voters said they had confidence that the state would deliver the Games within or close to the $7.1bn (€4.45bn) budget. Among LNP voters, the figure was 28%, while One Nation supporters were the most sceptical.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has sought to address the concerns by emphasising the government's commitment to 'financial discipline and transparency', which he expects will reassure voters. Mander has described questions about the budget as 'reasonable', arguing that scrutiny is a normal part of preparing for an Olympic and Paralympic Games. He has also maintained that the state will meet the costs of supporting infrastructure, including accommodation and access improvements associated with regional venues.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie.Albert Perez/GETTY IMAGES

Those requirements demonstrate that delivering the Games involves more than completing sporting facilities. The Fitzroy River rowing venue in Rockhampton, for example, has faced further questions and some public back-and-forths over flooding risks, accommodation and athlete facilities, despite a positive independent technical assessment of its suitability for competition under the conditions assessed.

despite receiving a positive independent assessment of its suitability for competition. Meanwhile, the planned stadium at Victoria Park has attracted scrutiny over its connections to transport improvements intended to support the Games.

With the event approaching, the government faces a dual challenge: managing contracts and construction risks while demonstrating that its budget commitments are credible. The latest polling suggests that, for many Queensland voters, assurances alone are not enough.

The publication of clearer milestones, regular progress updates and verifiable cost information could become increasingly important in showing whether the programme is on course to deliver the Games within the promised financial limits.