BRISBANE (INSIDE THE GAMES)—Concerns over the city’s readiness to deliver key infrastructure projects ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are weighing heavily on the mind of Andrew Liveris, the man leading the preparations.
Speaking at a business forum last Thursday, Brisbane 2032 president Liveris acknowledged serious gaps in the lead-up to the Games, particularly in housing and workforce availability. “I’m having moments that keep me up at night,” he said, later clarifying those worries were “good things.”
“We need accommodation, we need hotels,” he added. “We need human capital like there’s no tomorrow. Skilled labour is a country issue … how do we solve our labour shortage?” Despite these challenges, Liveris, former CEO of U.S. chemicals giant Dow, said there was still enough time to get the city ready.
Though the hurdles are mounting. Experts have flagged a projected shortfall of up to 30,000 hotel rooms, with Brisbane’s accommodation supply far from meeting Olympic demand. The pace of hotel development has slowed dramatically in recent years, and rising construction cost, up nearly 40% for mid- to high-end hotels, are deterring new investment. Developers also cite tax and regulatory barriers that make projects financially unviable.
While responsibility for delivering the Games infrastructure lies with state and federal governments, Liveris stressed that venues must serve Brisbane’s long-term needs, not just the two-week event. The infrastructure bill is estimated at over $7 billion AUD (€4.2bn), which he defended by highlighting the projected US$17 billion AUD (€10.2bn) economic benefit.
“I would be very energised if I was a small business in this state and this community,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of something that puts your product on display. You will be part of an Olympic city, an Olympic state. So I think it’s a massive opportunity.”
Liveris also backed the Games’ reconciliation plan, which aims to embed Indigenous heritage, culture, and history throughout the organisation. However, tensions continue to build over the proposed stadium site at Victoria Park/Barrambin, a location of deep cultural and spiritual significance for First Nations communities. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has launched legal action under federal heritage laws to block the development. Concerns include potential damage to ancient trees, artefacts, ancestral remains, and disruption to a vital green corridor.
In response to heritage objections, the state government recently approved an expanded heritage listing for parts of the park. Though it still plans to proceed with the stadium, proposing planning laws that override 15 environmental and heritage acts to fast-track construction. Critics argue this undermines protections for Indigenous land, native wildlife, and ecologically sensitive areas.
Environmental groups have also raised alarms about geotechnical risks. The site includes sloped terrain, hard bedrock requiring possible blasting, old landfill zones, and remnants of a former WWII US military base, all of which could significantly drive up costs and timelines. In addition, estimates suggest as much as 60 percent of Victoria Park’s green space could be consumed by Olympic infrastructure, drawing criticism from urban planners and community advocates who say it contradicts Brisbane’s vision of a ‘green Games’.
Liveris, who grew up in Darwin and completed his education in Brisbane, said the Games could still deliver on its commitment to Indigenous inclusion. “I’m very committed, maybe (because) I grew up in Darwin amongst Indigenous people, went to school with them,” he said. “I think that there’s a unique opportunity to elevate in an equitable way how First Nations people live in our country. The Olympics and Paralympics should not back away from that.”
Asked about a potential mascot for the Games, Liveris declined to comment. “I don’t know how to answer that question,” he said with a laugh, adding the emblems would likely be revealed in the second half of 2026…PACNEWS