G 20 summit in Brisbane

Funding stoush clouds Brisbane's G20 bid

Posted July 11, 2012 08:23:06 

 

 

 

Photo: It is the first time an Australian city will host the meeting. (Giulio Saggin: ABC News)

The Federal Government will formally announce today that Brisbane will host the G20 summit in 2014, but the decision has angered New South Wales and raised questions over who will pay for it.

It is the first time an Australian city will host the G20 meeting, and Treasurer Wayne Swan says having the leaders and finance ministers of the world's biggest economies in Brisbane will put Australia centre stage in world economic affairs.

Mr Swan has told AM that the Government called for expressions of interest to host the meeting, and Brisbane was the clear winner.

'I think Brisbane in particular is the snap shot of our economy more broadly, and certainly in terms of Brisbane and Queensland the logistics here were excellent, the convention centre and the airport were particularly important in those considerations.'

Treasurer Wayne Swan

"I think Brisbane in particular is the snapshot of our economy more broadly. And certainly in terms of Brisbane and Queensland, the logistics here are excellent, the convention centre and the airport were particularly important in those considerations," he said.

But there is confusion over who will foot the bill, with Queensland Premier Campbell Newman indicating his state does not have any spare funds to chip in. Mr Swan says Queensland will be contributing to the cost of the event."It is my understanding that they will be pitching in to the G20 and they will be working with us to make sure that we put on a world class event," he said."They will be partnering with the Commonwealth Government in the provision, if you like, on a whole range of services which are critical to the success of a conference of this size. "They certainly will be contributing to the cost of running this conference in Brisbane in the normal way that any other state would be contributing."

The Treasurer says the Federal Government has already allotted almost $400 million to cover costs.

'Everyone should expect the Federal Government to come to the party. I am sure the Federal Government will pick up virtually all the tab'.

Politics lecturer Paul Williams

"I can't go into all of that detail at this stage because we'll still be talking with the Queensland Government about all of the detail," Mr Swan said."But in terms of the Commonwealth budget, we've put aside something like $370 million over four years."

Politics lecturer Paul Williams says the cost will be immense, but the Federal Government is likely to pay for the majority of the event. "Everyone should expect the Federal Government to come to the party. I am sure the Federal Government will pick up virtually all the tab," he said.

Meanwhile, the New South Wales Government has accused Prime Minister Julia Gillard of choosing Brisbane as the host city to shore up Queensland votes.

State Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard says he is appalled because Sydney is a better option. "Sydney is the only true world city of Australia. It is the city that can best showcase Australia to the world and particularly to the G20 leaders," he said. "And it would appear that Julia Gillard is quite prepared to use the world's leaders as her own political play things by taking them to Brisbane in an effort to shore up the Labor vote in Queensland."

Economic boost

Dr Williams says the summit will require the biggest security operation ever seen in Queensland.
"Brisbane might not be quite the level of the London Olympics in terms of security, but I think it won't be far behind in terms of the police, private security and perhaps army and other security bodies," he said.

"In terms of sweeping for anti-terrorism, right down to keeping protesters away and that's another issue of course, we're almost certain to see protesters."

Wrangling over the cost aside, the news has been greeted with excitement by leaders in the Queensland capital over the announcement.

'There is no bigger international event than the G20 in terms of a meeting of government leaders.
And from that point of view it really does show Brisbane has come of age, we are the new world city and it is a very exciting prospect for Brisbane'.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk

David Goodwin from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry says with 7,000 delegates and media expected to attend the summit, the economic benefits would be huge.

"When you host it you get an opportunity to have a major stimulus to your local economy," he said.
"When you do get thousands of people coming in from overseas, your restaurateurs will do well, your hotels will do well."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says it is a coup for the city to host the summit, which brings together the leaders of the world's largest economies.

"There is no bigger international event than the G20 in terms of meting of government leaders, and from that point of view it really does show Brisbane has come of age," he said. "We are the new world city and it is a very exciting prospect for Brisbane. "It provides an opportunity to showcase our city and an economic boost for our city as well.
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