In 2022, the opening of hotels in Brisbane was delayed by two years, with no indication of when they will welcome guests. The Queen’s Wharf luxury retail precinct also faced delays, with legal action taken by former anchor tenant DFS against Destination Brisbane Consortium. Despite the first stage of Queen’s Wharf opening in August, the precinct remains without an anchor tenant or opening date for its retail component. Plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues have been a debacle, with ongoing reviews and decisions being made on existing infrastructure instead of new developments such as a new stadium.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has begun his pre-election campaign ahead of the upcoming federal election, with a focus on three crucial states including Queensland. Before Premier David Crisafulli was elected, youth crime rates in Queensland had fallen to near-record lows. However, the LNP campaign promised harsher punishments for children, which have now been implemented through new laws. The extension of funding for the Caboolture watch house has been necessary due to delays in the opening of the 76-bed juvenile prison at Wacol, with concerns about the impact on children in watch house facilities.
Brisbane saw the addition of three new bridges in 2024, including the Breakfast Creek Green Bridge/Yowoggera, Neville Bonner Bridge, and Kangaroo Point Bridge. These new structures have improved connectivity across the city, but there are concerns about whether the city has been spoiled by the additions. The upcoming federal election in May will see Brisbane residents return to the polls after voting in the council and state elections in March and October respectively.
The ongoing delays in the opening of hotels and the Queen’s Wharf luxury retail precinct have caused uncertainty for Brisbane residents and visitors. Concerns about youth crime and the handling of juvenile offenders have been a focus for the government, with new laws passed to address the issue. The impact of the delays to the 2032 Olympic venues and the decisions being made regarding existing infrastructure have been subject to review and scrutiny. The addition of new bridges in 2024 has improved connectivity across Brisbane but has also raised questions about the need for further infrastructure developments in the city.
