Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is called out for ‘hypocrisy’ by Sir Bob Geldof

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been called out for hypocrisy by Sir Bob Geldof after claiming that the Brisbane 2032 will be the Olympic’s first-ever ‘climate positive games’.

That’s despite the state relying heavily on the mining industry for government royalties and jobs.

In an interview with Pelaszczuk last Monday, Geldof unleashed about ‘the seeming hypocrisy of (Queensland) being a mining state and going for a green Olympics’.

Irish rock star and anti-poverty campaigner Sir Bob Geldof (pictured) described the ‘green Olympics’ label as hypocritical given the state’s heavy reliance on mining

‘(I) take the point that you’ve still got to extract minerals to get to a green policy: it seems odd and contradictory, but there you go,’ Geldof said on Disrupt Radio.

He then went on an extended rant explaining to Palaszczuk why it wasn’t green or financially a good idea for Queensland to host the games.

‘The point is there has been only two Olympics that have made money – Barcelona and Los Angeles, as far as I can remember,’ he claimed.

‘How did they make money? Of course, nobody else bid for the LA Olympics, so they didn’t have to do anything. They just said: ‘We have everything here. We’re not going to do much else. And by that time, TV rights of course, were worth a lot of money.’

He asked the Premier why she was looking to knock down venues in Brisbane, including the Gabba, despite it being the only city to bid to host the event.

‘Why can’t you just utilize what’s there? And say to the International Olympic Committee: This is our bid. We’re just using what’s here. We’ve got stadiums. They’re not the best. They’re not swish architecture. But we’re going to have the best athletes – they’re going to stay with Mrs Meggins in 5 Acacia Ave. And if they don’t like it, don’t come.’

But Palaszcuk said the infrastructure needed to be built.

‘Our Gabba needs to be rebuilt,’ she claimed. ‘It’s actually reached end of life.’

She also said the proposed swimming venue for the Games, the Brisbane Arena, would also be a ‘live music venue’.

‘So when I play there, I’ll be able to go for a dip in the middle of the gig and get back on stage,’ Geldof jokingly responded. 

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is pictured with her boyfriend Dr Reza Adib