Gina Rinehart, Australia’s wealthiest individual, advocated for a proposal to relocate 2032 Olympic rowing events to the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, situated approximately 600 kilometers north of Brisbane, the primary host city. Documents released by the Queensland government reveal an undated letter from Rinehart to state deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie supporting the relocation plan, which was formally announced in March of the previous year.
The Queensland government justified the controversial decision through a venues review completed in early 2025. The review process was used to rationalize departing from election commitments regarding stadium construction. However, the rowing relocation contradicted the review’s own recommendations, which had proposed relocating rowing to Sydney at an existing facility near Penrith instead.
The proposal has generated substantial opposition within the rowing and Olympic communities. The Fitzroy River location raises multiple concerns beyond the presence of saltwater crocodiles occasionally found in the water at Rockhampton. International and Australian rowing officials have expressed worries that a facility in Rockhampton would become underutilized after the Games. Technical concerns include potential difficulties meeting international racing standards regarding water quality, aquatic vegetation, and current conditions.
In her letter, Rinehart, a significant financial supporter of One Nation and a figure with extensive mining and pastoral operations, argued that hosting an Olympic event in the region would allow Queensland to showcase its agricultural heritage. She noted that Australian rowers train on the Fitzroy River and that Rockhampton hosts state school rowing championships annually. Rinehart emphasized that an existing rowing facility near major infrastructure could reduce public expenditure. She additionally highlighted the historical significance of nearby Mt Morgan, once the world’s largest gold mine, suggesting a symbolic connection between the location’s mining heritage and Olympic medals.
State officials have indicated that rowing would either proceed in Rockhampton or be cancelled from the Olympic program entirely, creating pressure around the decision.
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