One Nation rejects Olympics
STATEMENT
I have been overwhelmed by the public’s support of my opposition to the planned bid to host the 2032 Olympics by Queensland Labor, the Australian Government and the Queensland LNP.
My sole reasons for this opposition is that Queensland has a debt in excess of $90-billion dollars and hosting a blue ribbon event like the Olympics will only risk pushing that debt even higher.
The higher our debt, the more we will struggle to pay for essential items like public health services, education, better water infrastructure, better roads, job creation and the like.
There’s no argument that the Olympics is a wonderful spectacle. It is incredibly entertaining to watch the world’s elite athletes in so many events competing to win a gold medal and for the honour to be declared the best in the world.
But to host such an event doesn’t come cheaply.
A study by the University of Oxford showed that hosting the Summer Olympics costs on average $12.5b (in Australian dollars). History shows that hosting the Summer Olympics has resulted in an average budget blowout for host cities of 176%.
There are host cities that have been paying off Games infrastructure for years after the event after that infrastructure has gone to rack and ruin.
It is easy to get caught up in the spectacle and excitement of hosting the Olympics. It would look great on the resume of any political leader to say, ‘I hosted the Olympics”, but ego and self-puffery must be put to the side for one moment while we analyse the cost, both in upfront dollars and the ongoing debts into the future.
I think Annastacia Palaszczuk, Scott Morrison and Deb Frecklington have proved they have lost touch with the average Queenslander by blindly chasing what is an expensive, unnecessary and risky financial gamble like the Olympics.
Every family needs to prioritise its budget to make sure it has money for the essential household bills, before considering any lavish luxury spending. The Queensland and Australian governments need to take the same attitude with the Olympics to avoid risking shortfalls in more-pressing areas of need.
I hope that Queensland voters won’t be mesmerised by the pending excitement of the Olympics, while ignoring the ongoing cost to taxpayers into the future.
My view is not about being a spoil-sport, it’s about doing what is right for Queenslanders. A better future for Queensland should be a higher priority than the risky two-week “sugar hit” that may come from the Olympic Games.
Kind regards
Pauline Hanson
Senator for Queensland
Leader of One Nation
END
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