Legal Challenge Against Brisbane's Olympic Stadium Plans

Tue Oct 21 2025 13:42:41 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An Aboriginal group seeks to protect culturally significant land from a proposed Olympic stadium.

The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has initiated legal action to halt the construction of a 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park, Brisbane, citing its cultural importance. The Australian government is reviewing the site for protection under heritage laws, amid growing tensions over the 2032 Olympic initiatives.

An Indigenous group has launched legal action to stop a 63,000-seat stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics being built on culturally significant land. The Queensland government announced in March that a new A$3.8 billion ($2.5 billion; £1.8 billion) stadium would be constructed at Victoria Park, a 60-hectare site.

The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) and the Save Victoria Park group are urging the federal environment minister to classify the park as a culturally significant site, which could potentially shield it from the development. “Victoria Park is of great significance and history for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people,” said YMAC spokeswoman Gaja Kerry Charlton.

She expressed concerns about the existence of ancient trees, artefacts, and vital ecosystems at the site, including the possibility of ancestral remains. A spokesperson for the federal government confirmed receipt of the request to designate the site under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, stating that the department is currently reviewing the application, which includes engagement with the involved parties.

If constructed, the stadium will be the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, later transforming into a home for AFL and cricket in Queensland.

The 2032 Olympic infrastructure plans have sparked heated debates in Queensland recently. Labor's Annastacia Palaszczuk led the successful Olympic bid, proposing to refurbish the older Gabba stadium for the games, which faced backlash from locals concerned about displacement and its financial burden on taxpayers. Following Palaszczuk's resignation in 2023, a review suggested building a new stadium at Victoria Park, but the new leader opted to upgrade existing facilities for event hosting during a cost-of-living crisis.

After losing an election, Premier David Crisafulli reverted to the Victoria Park plan and introduced laws to fast-track the stadium's construction by exempting it from planning regulations. However, protests have emerged from locals concerned about losing a significant inner-city green space and the potential erosion of cultural heritage.

Both state and federal governments have indicated a commitment to engage with Indigenous groups regarding development plans at Victoria Park. “Ultimately, this is going to happen,” proclaimed Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, acknowledging there would be attempts to impede the project.