‘Won’t get stabbed’: Olympics-mad leader’s city sledge
Alex Mitchell |
The Queensland premier doesn’t expect any problems attracting workers to build essential Olympic infrastructure, because tradies will purportedly be fleeing crime-riddled cities to come to Brisbane.
In a wicked shot at Melbourne, David Crisafulli used a 2032 Olympics talkfest to declare his state had plenty to offer in order to attract the human capital for constructing the stadiums, hotels and other facilities for the event.
“I’ll tell you another thing I can offer – if they live in Melbourne, they’ve got a place that’s dealing with youth crime and they won’t get stabbed, that’s a good start,” he told the Future Brisbane event on Friday.
“And if they’re in Sydney, they’ve got a place that’s dealing with the traffic congestion.”
The Liberal National premier’s sledge came after the latest high-profile crime in Victoria, where data has shown a jump in offences, involving the random stabbing of a pedestrian in Melbourne.
Mr Crisafulli campaigned hard on reducing crime before his victory at the 2024 state election and he even vowed to stand down if victim numbers did not drop.
Before the swipes at the larger capitals, both in Labor-led states, the premier admitted offering financial sweeteners for workers and companies to relocate to Brisbane ahead of the Games weren’t off the table.
“I don’t think the solution is to always throw money at a problem, but sometimes incentives are needed,” Mr Crisafulli said.
Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris earlier in October admitted the city’s ability to deliver key projects was causing him great anxiety.
“We need accommodation, we need hotels,” he said.
“We need human capital like there’s no tomorrow. Skilled labour is a country issue … how do we solve our labour shortage?”
Mr Crisafulli pledged there would be no issue covering a projected 30,000 hotel room shortfall for the Olympics because local councils were “open for business”.
“We’ll get it done,” he said.
“Yes, it will be a challenge, but I can look people in the eye and say that things will be done by the time of the Games.”
Much of the News Corp-hosted forum focused on how the Games could help to promote Brisbane to the world.
A panel of key business figures was played a video of punters from America and the United Kingdom being asked if they had heard of the Queensland state capital.
Few had and even fewer knew the Olympics would be hosted there in 2032.
“Quite often I have to explain what it is, where it is and what we have to offer, so from that perspective I’m not surprised,” Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
“I’ve always seen the Olympics here as the perfect platform, the perfect catalyst to sell Brisbane to the rest of the world.”
AAP
