The Australian federal government has challenged Queensland’s claim that the selection of the Fitzroy River as the rowing and canoe sprint venue for Brisbane 2032 is final. Sports Minister Anika Wells has disputed the interpretation offered by the state’s Premier, David Crisafulli, and raised questions about the transparency of the process, according to The Courier-Mail. The disagreement opens a debate about who must approve venues and when a decision can be announced as final.
On 17 September, the Queensland Government announced that the events would take place in Rockhampton, following support from World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide for an independent technical assessment. “Rowing and canoe sprint will be in Rockhampton for the 2032 Games,” Crisafulli said in the official statement. The announcement reinforced his commitment to bringing competitions and their benefits to regional cities across the state.
The scope of the technical endorsement
The statement published the following day by the two international federations, alongside Rowing Australia and Paddle Australia, clarified the scope of that assessment. The four organisations acknowledged the report by consultancy WaterProof and confirmed that the course can provide a safe, fair and consistent field of play “under the conditions assessed”. That wording supports the sporting suitability of the course within the scenario examined.
The same document left technical details, service levels and facilities required for Olympic and Paralympic competition subject to confirmation. These form part of the next venue-planning phase, which includes the Project Validation Report process led by the Games infrastructure authority, GIICA. Endorsement of the field of play therefore does not establish that validation of the entire venue has been completed.
A decision involving several bodies
Wells’ intervention is particularly significant because she is also a vice-president of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, according to Queensland’s official register of government bodies. The disagreement therefore involves representatives of institutions working on preparations for the same Games. Their differing accounts require clarification of what has been approved, what remains outstanding and who must resolve it.
The organising committee’s 2024–2025 annual report provides a specific reference for that division of responsibilities. In describing the review of the venue master plan and sport allocations, it states that changes will be subject to formal approval by its Board, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The procedure involves several approval bodies; Queensland’s announcement alone does not establish which approvals have been completed.
There is also a significant qualification within the state government’s own announcement. GIICA Chairman Stephen Conry acknowledged that assessments of requirements, design, risk mitigation and legacy were continuing. Meanwhile, Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris supported focusing subsequent design and operational work exclusively on Rockhampton. Both statements indicate a clear direction for the project while acknowledging that validation work remains underway… Trust also depends on accurately communicating the project’s status.
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