Queensland Passes Law Allowing Olympics Projects to Bypass 15 Planning Laws

The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (pdf) passed the state parliament on June 26.

LNP Premier David Crisafulli addresses the media at Parliament House in Brisbane, Australia on Oct. 27, 2024. AAP Image/Darren England

The Liberal National Party (LNP) government has successfully passed new laws to scale back red tape for the construction of venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

The Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (pdf) passed the state parliament on June 26 after being put forward by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie in May.

Changes within the bill give the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) the power to bypass 15 different planning laws, including building, environment, and heritage restrictions. Council regulations can also be overridden if they are deemed to impede regional projects.

The new laws are expected to expedite construction of Brisbane’s 63,000-seat Victoria Park stadium. The LNP government last year already suspended generous union benefits deemed to be holding up construction.

A supplied image obtained on Nov. 24, 2023, shows an artist's depiction of the new-look layout for the Gabba precinct which will be rebuilt ahead of the 2032 Olympics. The Gabba will be completely demolished and rebuilt to become the centrepiece of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics as part of a $2.7 billion project. AAP Image/Supplied by Queensland Government

“The legislation passed tonight underpins the delivery of Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities well beyond 2032,” Bleijie said in a statement.

In another effort to streamline delivery of the Games, the government has has moved to cut the Organising Committee Board from 24 positions to 15, while also quietly removing diversity quotas.

The state government allocated $145.5 million towards Olympic infrastructure in this week’s budget.

Over the next four years, funding for the Brisbane Olympics will grow to $1.7 billion.