The following reflects the know party positions as at Election Day 16 March 2024.

Your vote counts.

The Brisbane City Council local government election offers the community a chance to ensure the Gabba Demolition, associated relocation of East Brisbane State School and annexation of Raymond Park does not go ahead. These issues, while ones of the State Government's making, are inherrantly local issues. Brisbane City Council can be powerful advocate the community and the outcome of this election will signal to the Queensland Government they need to Rethink the Gabba. 

We have asked parties and candidates their positions on the Gabba and associated issues. These have been collated into Rethink the Gabba's 2024 Council Election Scorecard below. 

Early Voting    Open Now - 15 March 2024

Election Day   Saturday 16 March 2024

Scorecard Explanations

1. Oppose the Gabba rebuild
Brisbane City Council holds a pivotal role as the local government for the Olympics, offering a unique platform to advocate for its residents. Opposing the Gabba rebuild is crucial to safeguarding community interests and preserving valuable heritage. This stance ensures that resources are allocated effectively, promoting sustainable development in line with community needs and aspirations. This allows better, more cost effective and less disruptive solutions to be identified and explored.

Bottom line: Rethink the Gabba Inc. believes that candidates with a clear and well defined position on this issue will fight for the community benefit and deserve support.

2. Keep East Brisbane State School

The retention of East Brisbane State School (EBSS) in its current location is imperative for maintaining the integrity of the local community and preserving educational infrastructure. Supporting the school's continuation at its current site demonstrates a commitment to educational excellence and acknowledges the significance of heritage in shaping vibrant neighbourhoods. The need for a local school is only set to grow as the Gabba transitions from a suburban to urban locality.

Bottom line: Anything but a full commitment to keeping EBSS local is supporting the erosion of our community's future. 

3. Oppose Council funding the Gabba

Opposing Council funding for temporary sports facilities such as those planned at the RNA showgrounds during the Gabba demolition underscores a commitment to responsible fiscal management and prioritisation of community needs. Redirecting resources away from temporary facilities towards more sustainable, community-oriented initiatives ensures that taxpayer funds are invested wisely for the long-term benefit of residents.

Bottom line: Council ratepayers should expect that Council rates are used to deliver services that benefit the community, not sporting codes nor underwriting State Government hubris.

4. Retain Raymond Park

The opposition to the annexation of Raymond Park for a temporary warm-up facility is essential in safeguarding green spaces and recreational areas vital for community well-being. Retaining Raymond Park reinforces the importance of preserving green space recreational environments and promoting healthy, active lifestyles for residents of all ages.

Bottom line: Raymond Park is not suitable for a temporary warm up facility and the idea should be abandoned. Candidates that oppose this idea deserve support.

5. Retain Gabba Place Park

The loss of Woolloongabba Place Park in the development signifies a significant reduction in green space, leading to negative impact on local residents and also attendees to the Gabba on game days. This would be a significant setback for local residents, depriving them of essential green spaces in an urbanised suburb that has a general lack of green space. Opposing the loss of Woolloongabba Place Park underscores a commitment to preserving urban greenery and creating vibrant, liveable communities conducive to residents' health and well-being.

Bottom line:  Green space is scarce in the inner city. Loss of any green space should not be tolerated, and any candidate that opposes the loss of green space should be supported.

6. Advocate for school upgrades 

Advocating for the allocation of construction funds earmarked for the Coorparoo relocation towards upgrades for East Brisbane State School (EBSS) reflects a commitment to enhancing educational facilities and providing students with a conducive learning environment. Redirecting resources towards school upgrades aligns with the principle of prioritising education and investing in the future of young learners.

It is important to note that the Department of Education as recently as 2020 had a master plan for EBSS to increase the school size to 500 students. Let's prepare the local primary school to meet the uplift in student demand coming with increased Gabba population growth.

Bottom line: Moving the school is only happening because of the Gabba, and the primary reason to move the school disappears once the Gabba plan is stopped. However bureaucratic wheels are in motion - political representatives are needed that will strongly advocate for upgrading EBSS. The candidates that have indicated this is their position deserve support.

Party Responses

The following responses were provided to clarify positions for the major parties in response to questions posed by Rethink the Gabba.

Questions to candidates

The following email template was use to clarify candidates positions:

Dear Candidate,

Rethink the Gabba Inc. is a volunteer-run organisation that promotes the well-being of our local community. 

As you will be aware, the Review of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic venue Master Plan is presently underway. However, the results of this review are not due until 18 March 2024.

To assist voters in the Council elections on 16 March 2024 in determining which candidates to support, we are compiling a political scorecard for all wards and the Lord Mayoralty. This scorecard will explain the views of candidates across a number of key community issues.

We understand that the official view of the [insert party] applies as follows.

1. Do you oppose the proposed demolition and rebuild of the Gabba for the Olympics? [yes/no]

2. Do you support retaining East Brisbane State School (EBSS) in its current location? [yes/no]

3. Do you oppose Council prioritising funding temporary sports facilities during the Gabba demolition? [yes/no]

4. Do you oppose the annexation of Raymond Park for a temporary warm-up facility, considering its importance as a green space and recreational area? [yes/no]

5. Do you oppose the loss of Woolloongabba Place Park? [yes/no]

6. If EBSS remains in its current location, will you advocate for using the funds allocated for the Coorparoo relocation to fund upgrades to the school instead? [yes/no]

Does the above reflect your views? If we don’t hear from you by 12 noon Monday 26 February 2024, we will assume your position is consistent with your party's position and will note this on the scorecard as such. We intend to publish our ‘Gabba scorecard’ on rethinkthegabba.org and share through other channels, including physical material on election day, as required.

Please consider and provide any feedback on your positions on these issues by our publication deadline 12 noon 26 February 2024.

Thank you for your time and best wishes for the election.

Your sincerely, 

Melissa Occhipinti

Co-Chair

Rethink the Gabba Inc.