On Thursday, 12 February 2026 the LNP introduced amendments to its Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 at the last minute, converting Victoria Park/Barrambin to freehold title so that it can be privatised, and fast-tracking development of a new arena on the Gabba Priority Development Area site - an area which was previously flagged for housing.
You can read my full speech below, and the various interjections from other government members, or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings (Hansard) here.
Mr BERKMAN: Obviously, the terms of the clause limit what I might say about all of the downsides of this government’s broken promise and the plans to build the stadium on Victoria Park/Barrambin. I cannot go into the detail I might like about the cultural heritage values of that place. It is important to First Nations communities around here. The complete ignorance amongst government members of its cultural heritage significance tells the entire story.
Government members interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Maiwar has the call, nobody else.
Mr BERKMAN: This amendment right here turns it into fee simple so it can be transferred to GIICA. That is the short-term proposal. What about beyond the Olympics? This is no longer in public hands; it is now regular, saleable land and, as we have heard, developers will be absolutely salivating over this inner-city property.
Mr Stevens interjected.
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Mermaid Beach, you are warned. You have done nothing but interject.
Mr BERKMAN: There is nothing preventing future iterations of this government or any other government from repurposing it. If it is in GIICA’s hands, why could it not end up in private developer’s hands in the future, even if it is used solely for the purposes they have suggested? There is another real catch in here, and this is the one that jumps out at me immediately. In the context of this sitting week, where they have opened up the door for developers to donate directly into their pockets again, they have included the Gabba Arena. The old Goprint site, as we all know it, is now going to be an ‘other venue’ under the BOPGA Act.
Mr MANDER: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The venue the member is referring to is not part of this amendment.
Mr SPEAKER: Member for Maiwar, could you confine your comments to this specific clause please, which is around freehold and transfer.
Mr BERKMAN: I do not purport to challenge the minister on this, but we are talking about clause 2 which is an extensive insertion of an entirely new part 1A. As I understand it, it does include provisions around the Goprint site and it does include the reclassification of the Goprint site. Expressions of interest are being taken at the moment from developers who want to make a bank off this Brisbane Arena site, and now they are going to be able to put in those expressions and put forward their proposals without any of the legislative barriers that might have existed previously. They will enjoy the privilege of all of those shortcuts. Whatever developer picks this up through the EOI process is getting money for jam. I remind everyone that this is the same week that these clowns over there have opened up their pockets: ‘Let’s get the developer dollars in there as quick as we can.’
Mrs FRECKLINGTON: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I find the language used unparliamentary and offensive.
Mr SPEAKER: I was just about to do that. Member for Maiwar, that language is unparliamentary. I ask you to withdraw.
Mr BERKMAN: Withdrawn. The LNP have been completely bought and sold by property developers this week and that tells us all we need to know about this party and this government.