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Queensland has moved one step closer to having an independent delivery authority for the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Legislation for the independent body was tabled in Queensland parliament on Wednesday.
The moves follows a key recommendation in a $717,000 report from Deloitte on "governance arrangements" for the 2032 Games.
DeIoitte recommended establishing a "coordination office" within government to avoid bureaucratic double-up and costs — a plan adopted by the government and criticised by the state opposition.
But last year, shortly after becoming premier, Steven Miles changed tack and announcing an independent delivery authority was now the right way to go, despite the government previously dismissing it.
In state parliament on Wednesday, Mr Miles said the new body would be charged with delivering new and upgraded infrastructure "not just for the Games but for decades to come".
"It's expected the authority will be established by mid-year and will feature a board of up to seven members, recommended by Games delivery partners," Mr Miles said.
"It will hit the ground running with legislation requiring the authority deliver a transport and mobility strategy within its first 18 months."
State Development Minister Grace Grace told the house the government wanted to ensure "we get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right".
The bill has been referred to a parliamentary committee, which is due to report back next month.
Quirk panel 'blindsided'
As the bill was tabled, a senate inquiry was sitting in Brisbane, examining the city's readiness for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
On Wednesday morning, it heard from former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk, who last month published a review of the city's sporting infrastructure recommending a new stadium be built at inner-city Victoria Park.
The recommendation was ignored by the Queensland government in favour of a refurbishment to 1970s suburban athletics stadium, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), in the city's south.
Mr Quirk told the inquiry his panel was unaware the state government had been working on its Nathan stadium plan behind the scenes in the weeks before he handed his report down in March.
"The premier announced — on the same day that I did a press conference — that he had been, for the couple of weeks prior, working with some public servants around his proposal," he said.
"The panel did not know that, it was a complete blindsiding."
The inquiry panel — led by LNP senators Matt Canavan, Bridget McKenzie, Anne Ruston and Richard Colbeck, and Queensland Greens senator Penny Allman-Payne — seized the opportunity to criticise state and federal Labor government delays to the process.
Brisbane planning compared with Sydney
International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative John Coates also gave evidence, telling the senate committee the IOC will not insist on "white elephant" venues.
Mr Coates said he supports the state government's preferred QSAC redevelopment.
He waved off questions from the panel on whether the delays were a concern, comparing Brisbane's progress to Sydney 2000 preparations.
"Prior to the Sydney Olympic Games, we had changes of government, both at the federal and state level," he said.
"There was no master plan in 1995 and there was much more construction to be undertaken at that stage.
"It was after 1995 that the Olympic co-ordination authority was established. The Olympics road and transport authority was not until 1998 or 1999."
Architect Peter Edwards, designer of the Brisbane Bold plan – an alternative infrastructure proposal based on "clustering" sporting venues near the city centre – criticised the Queensland government's reactive approach to infrastructure decision-making.
"Queenslanders are the best swimmers in Australia, Australians are the best swimmers in the world. We're talking about the Games — this does not come again to us," he said.
"The frustration for me, and many in my place and industry, is the lack of a compelling vision to harness that moment to deliver legacy that sets us up for the next 50 years."
Former LNP premier and lord mayor Campbell Newman told the senate committee the Quirk review's Victoria Park proposal should be "cremated".
Mr Newman said that plan offered no assurance the Gabba would be converted to green space if a Victoria Park stadium was built.
He said if the LNP wins government in October, the Victoria Park option could be revisited.
Mr Newman argued in favour of refurbishing the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall, 14 kilometres north of the CBD, where there is an extensive landholding and an existing rail connection.
The inquiry continues.