Brisbane has five years of its Olympic countdown in the books and, according to industry experts, not a moment to spare. Of the seven new venues needed for the 2032 Games, only Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park has reached the early works stage. The remaining six are still in planning, approvals, or design, according to ABC News. None of the 10 venue upgrades have progressed beyond that point either.

The Queensland Audit Office’s 2025-26 Major Projects Report shows nearly all venue works are scheduled for completion by 2030 or 2031, meaning most construction will run at the same time. That overlap is the crux of the problem. Construction Skills Queensland estimates the state’s construction workforce will run at an average deficiency of 19,100 workers over the next eight years.

“What we see at the moment in Brisbane is the Olympics coinciding with major investments in health infrastructure and transport,” Australian Constructors Association chief executive Peter Colacino said. “Constraints on access to labour brings with it the risk of a price squeeze.” The $7.1 billion budget already faces pressure from soaring material costs and a tight labour supply.

The path to this point hasn’t been smooth. The original centrepiece, a $1 billion rebuild of the Gabba, blew out to an estimated $2.7 billion before being scrapped. After a state government review and a change of premier, a new 63,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park was announced earlier this year. Premier David Crisafulli acknowledged the decision broke his election promise of no new stadiums. Protests over the cultural significance of the Victoria Park site led to five arrests in May before excavators moved in on 1 June.

Colacino said careful planning and a solid working relationship between government and the construction sector were now essential. That relationship has been strained by disputes with unions over industrial codes. Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Jarrod Bleijie said the government was confident in delivery, though the audit office’s own report flagged workforce constraints and early-stage planning as genuine delivery risks.

For tradies in south-east Queensland, the pipeline is real but the timing is tight. Workers across carpentry, civil, and fitout trades can expect demand to spike in the late 2020s as venue builds run in parallel with hospital and transport projects. The squeeze Colacino is warning about cuts both ways: more work on offer, but harder to price jobs and lock in subbies when everyone is competing for the same hands. Carpenters thinking about where to be based over the next decade might find it worth checking the carpentry licence requirements by state before demand peaks.

Frequently asked questions

How many workers short will Brisbane’s Olympic construction be?

Construction Skills Queensland estimates the state’s construction workforce will run at an average deficiency of 19,100 workers over the next eight years.

Which Brisbane 2032 venues have started construction?

Only Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park has reached the early works stage. The remaining six new venues are still in planning, approvals, or design, and none of the 10 venue upgrades have progressed beyond that point.

What happened to the original Gabba rebuild?

The original $1 billion Gabba rebuild blew out to an estimated $2.7 billion before being scrapped. A new 63,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park was subsequently announced.

What does the Olympic build mean for tradies in south-east Queensland?

Demand for carpentry, civil, and fitout trades is expected to spike in the late 2020s as Olympic venue builds run in parallel with hospital and transport projects, creating more work but also making it harder to price jobs and secure subcontractors.

Sourced from ABC News, Queensland Audit Office, Construction Skills Queensland, Australian Constructors Association. Original article.