Environment Minister Murray Watt has declined to issue an emergency declaration to halt construction of an Olympic stadium on a site that traditional owners consider a sacred Indigenous area. The decision was announced on Sunday, just before the 64-hectare Victoria Park was to be transferred to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) for the development of a 63,000-seat stadium and aquatic centre.
Background of the Dispute
Traditional owners, including the Turrbal and Yagara Peoples, have long argued that Victoria Park is a significant Aboriginal area. Applications under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act warned that the site faced "serious and imminent threat of injury or desecration." Despite this, Minister Watt stated that he had decided against an emergency declaration but has appointed a reporter to investigate whether longer-term protections are necessary.
Protests and Arrests
Hundreds of protesters gathered at Victoria Park on Sunday, the final day before the site's transfer. The Save Victoria Park group, led by president Sue Bremner, expects fencing to be completed by Monday. On Friday, five people were arrested from the Goori Camp Embassy, a First Nations protest camp. Bremner told the crowd, "The world was appalled, on Friday, by what they saw."
Nurri Theresa Williams, who lodged protection applications, described the site as "the last sacred site of the gathering of our people in the entire Brisbane area." She highlighted the presence of birthing and burial sites used by her family for hundreds of years. Greens councillor Seal Chong Wah condemned the police presence as "evil."
Political Reactions
Former Liberal National party premier Campbell Newman expressed support for the protesters, stating he was "behind the Aunties 100%." He drew parallels to past demolitions of heritage buildings in Brisbane under Joh Bjelke-Petersen, saying, "We are about to lose something precious to an act of barbarism and expedient political calculation."
In contrast, the state government and Brisbane city council issued a joint statement defending the project, asserting that Victoria Park will become "a world-class destination with incredible new facilities" and "revitalised parkland for people to enjoy for generations to come." They noted that the protest camp had become a safety issue and urged protesters to leave before construction begins.
Police Presence and Future Plans
Police presence at the park on Sunday was light, and a Queensland police spokesperson said there were no immediate plans to evict protesters, referring questions to the city council. The GIICA is responsible for building the stadium, which will later be used for Australian rules football and cricket.
