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SENATOR THE HON JAMES McGRATH

SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE

SHADOW MINISTER FOR URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CITIES

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

MEDIA RELEASE

STOP THE STEAL: MELBOURNE CAN’T HAVE QUEENSLAND’S OLYMPIC EVENTS

31 August 2026

Melbourne’s Labor Lord Mayor Nick Reece should worry about fixing his own city rather than trying to steal Olympic tennis from Queensland, Senator James McGrath said today.

Mr Reece, a longtime Labor figure, has called for Olympic tennis to be moved from Brisbane to Melbourne Park.

“Nick Reece and the Victorian Labor Party should worry about their own record before telling Queensland how to run the 2032 Olympics,” Senator McGrath said.

“Victorian Labor couldn’t even host the Commonwealth Games. They failed at getting the games off the ground and then spent $589 million of taxpayers’ money not hosting them.

“Anthony Albanese has already tried to steal the rowing from Rockhampton. I’ve made it clear that rowing belongs in Rockhampton, and I’ll say the same about the tennis, it belongs in Brisbane.

“Albanese and his mates in Canberra, and their Labor mates in Melbourne, won’t win this fight.

“Queensland won the Games. Queensland will host the Games. And Queensland’s Olympic events are staying in Queensland."

ENDS

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