IPSWICH has been left without a seat at the table, with Mayor Teresa Harding dropped from the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee in a dramatic board restructure that leaves the city without a voice in the top-level planning of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The revised committee, revealed on Saturday, has been reduced from 24 members to just 15 – cutting Ipswich out entirely while retaining representatives from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. The exclusion comes despite Ipswich being an official co-host city and one of the fastest-growing regions in Queensland.
For Mayor Harding, who previously represented the Council of Mayors (SEQ) on the board, the decision marks a setback not just for her, but for the region’s hopes of securing lasting infrastructure and investment from the Games.
“While I am disappointed our State and Federal MPs have not yet secured a share of the $7.1 billion in Games infrastructure funding for Ipswich, I don’t believe this is our only opportunity,” Cr Harding said.
The shake-up follows the Queensland Government’s 100-day review of Olympic infrastructure planning, which recommended streamlining the board to improve decision-making.
Cr Harding said she would continue to advocate for the city’s interests through a new Local Government Advisory Group – but noted that major funding decisions lie with the State and Federal governments, not the Organising Committee.
“Our region has already missed four years of valuable planning. Making the most of the next seven years is crucial,” she said. “There is still time for our MPs to step up and secure investment – but every missed opportunity adds to the risk of Ipswich being left behind.”
The new board is chaired by Andrew Liveris, with Vice Presidents Federal Minister Anika Wells and Queensland Minister Tim Mander.
High-profile names such as Greg Norman, Jessica Fox and Kurt Fearnley round out a team of athletes and business figures – but no-one from Ipswich.
Mr Mander called the restructure “sensible and practical”, while Mr Liveris said new advisory groups would give stakeholders, including councils, a voice.
But with no direct representation in the inner circle, many fear Ipswich’s input will be limited – and its benefits from the Games even more so.
For a city that has long fought to be recognised in major infrastructure and planning decisions, the Olympic snub is an all-too-familiar disappointment.
