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BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australia has moved closer to launching a bid for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games after the Queensland state government announced it would help fund a study into how much the events would cost taxpayers.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday said she would chair a taskforce which will assess venues, transport infrastructure and economic viability.
Australia last hosted the Summer Olympics in Sydney in 2000, which was the first time since Melbourne was the host city in 1956.
The International Olympic Committee last month announced radical changes to how and when Olympic hosts are picked. The IOC wants to avoid negative headlines and angering local taxpayers following referendum losses on bids and excessive spending on white-elephant venues.
Also, stung by recent public votes in Europe and Canada, the IOC agreed that future bidders could need to win a referendum before entering a race.
Palaszczuk said although the Olympic bid would primarily involve the southeast region of the state — the capital Brisbane and the nearby coastal cities of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, all of the state would need to benefit. The Gold Coast successfully hosted the Commonwealth Games last year.
"The rules have changed, in terms of we don't need these mega-structures anymore," she said. "I need everyone to be working together. I need everyone on board, I don't need people sniping at the sidelines."
Palaszczuk said she expects a decision on whether to progress to the next stage will be made early next year.
Her government will match the 10 million Australian dollar ($7.1 million) contribution the federal government has already committed for the study.
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