Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has declared the Queensland Government will push ahead with its $3.8 billion Olympic stadium at Victoria Park, even if agreement cannot be reached with Indigenous communities, warning that cultural heritage laws will be overridden if necessary.
On Wednesday night, the government passed the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, a wide-ranging piece of legislation that fast-tracks the delivery of Olympic infrastructure and removes several planning and heritage hurdles.
The amendments also introduce new rules for renewable energy projects and update protections under the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme.
The Bill includes changes to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act 2021, giving the state government broader powers to accelerate Games infrastructure delivery.
Courier Mail reported Mr Bleijie confirmed those powers could be used to override cultural protections if negotiations with Traditional Owners fail.
"Rather than just overruling those cultural heritage laws, I've actually put a provision in there that still honours those cultural heritage laws," Mr Bleijie said.
"But ultimately, if an agreement can't be reached with local Indigenous communities, then the laws will be overridden."
He also dismissed concerns about the site's cultural significance.
"No one was talking about that before when it was a golf course," he said.
Yuggera woman Aunty Deb Sandy, whose family has strong ties to the area, said the land, known traditionally as Wallin, is a sacred place and should not be disturbed.
"That green space should be left as green space, as it was in the beginning - for the people of Brisbane," she said.
"No stadium should be built there... it's a no-brainer. No deal. No stadium."
Aunty Deb said the area served as a gathering and ceremony ground for Turrbal and Yuggera peoples and was home for many families, including her own.
"Aboriginal people used to camp there, it was home," she said.
"It was communal grounds too, for when visitors came from up the coast, out west - for ceremonies, for corroborees and travel ways."
She also described the site's violent colonial history.
"There was a lot of killings and murders that went on there… One of the most famous ones - Kitty - she was pregnant and when she got clubbed over the head and shot, she died," she said.
Advocacy group Save Victoria Park has threatened legal action based on the area's existing heritage listing.
In response, Mr Bleijie said the newly passed legislation would ensure work proceeds.
"There will be excavators, there'll be tractors, there'll be bulldozers, there'll be yellow vests… It won't be CFMEU, but there'll be lots of workers," he said.
Despite community opposition, including a recent protest where hundreds of people formed a human "NO" on the site, the government has committed $7.1 billion in its budget to fund Games venues, including the stadium at Barrambin.
